Pollinators of Chapmannia floridana (Fabaceae) and Their Foraging Preferences

The visitation rates of two major insect visitors, Bombus impatiens Cresson and Augochloropsis sp., of the Florida endemic plant species Chapmannia floridana Torrey & A. Gray, (Fabaceae); are determined for different microhabitats at the Archbold Biological Station in the summer of 1995. Significant differences in the total number of visits to each site were observed. Each pollinator species was found to visit different vegetation densities and sites with different frequencies. Relationships were also found between visitation rates and temperature and flower size. Variation in visitation rates did not significantly affect seed set in C. floridana. Disturbance did not seem to play a major role in determining visitation rates of either of the pollinators. Vegetation composition and flower density appear to be the best indicators of visitation rates to populations of this plant species.