Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Pingback: Why I Care About Prairies and You Should Too | The Prairie Ecologist. If you’re interested in a much more detailed review of yucca moths, you might like this article by Olle Pellmyr. – thank you to Mary Ann Feist for help with this post. She then flies off to another yucca flower. We live in england and have various flowering yucas in garden. Thanks for your wonderful explanation, and for he link to Olle Pellmyr’s paper. The symbiotic relationship between the insect and the plant is remarkable because the moth does not take advantage of the plant in ways other insects might. Pingback: The Story Between the Yucca Moth and Yucca Flower « Ariana's Bio Blogs. It’s sort of amazing that if one became scarce or ceased to exist it would at the least a major impact on the other, and may even lead to extinction! ME? She did however say there’s someone locally you may want to talk to on the matter. It sounds too good to be true; two species helping each other survive for millions of years – each getting as much as they give. The moth’s larvae depend on the seeds of the yucca plant for food, and the yucca plant can only be pollinated by the yucca moth. So many from cities move here and try making this habitat like the ones they left behind and have no idea how many creatures they are destroying or eraticating by their own selfish and ignorant behaviors. It is a balanced relationship – the moth pollinates the plant and in exchange the plant provides food for the moth. She may then return to the ovary of the same flower to lay more eggs or fly to another flower.  Either way, before she leaves the flower, she marks it with a pheromone (a chemical other moths can sense).  The scent marker will tell later visitors that they’re not the first to reach the flower, and they will either lay fewer eggs than the first moth, or none at all, depending upon how many moths have left their scent already. I think it is neat how they have that. – Chris, Pingback: Berry Go Round #35, Christmas Plant Edition | An Accidental Botanist. yucca moth family, Prodoxidae, shows that pollination has evolved at least three times from separate moth behaviors. The scent marker will tell later visitors that they’re not the first to reach the flower, and they will either lay fewer eggs than the first moth, or none at all, depending upon how many moths have left their scent already. Excellent. 2013 Dr. Luke. This mutually beneficial relationship probably started as a relationship of … Here's why it matters | | Marijuanapy The World News, This new project maps bees around the world. So each species depends upon each other for survival, and both benefit from the relationship. Yucca moths are also found in the southeastern portion of the U.S. and the West Indies, where just one species of yucca plant is known … The moths get a safe place to lay their eggs and feed their larvae, while the plants get pollinated to produce another generation. The relationship between yuccas and certain moths is a clever and mutually beneficial one. Would you be willing to submit your post, The Yucca and the Moth, to the upcoming blog carnival of plants, Berry Go Round #38? Most plants and animals follow the same pattern, in which there is most biodiversity towards the tropics, and less towards the poles. George Engelmann in St. Louis made some first observations in 1892 (Engelmann, 1872). For more than 40 million years there has been a relationship between yucca plants and yucca moths. I wonder how long it would take for or other of the species to adapt if one did become scarce? Here's why it matters - ThePrint | Philanthropy Media Network. Fascinating. In the central United States, soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) is pollinated by a moth known as Tegeticulla yuccasella.  Each spring, adult moths emerge from underground cocoons and the males and females meet up with each other on yucca plants to mate. Most plants and animals follow the same pattern, in which there is most biodiversity towards the tropics, and less towards the poles. Here’s why it matters – Warta Saya, This new project maps bees around the world. It is most amazing. […], […] Using a comprehensive checklist of bee distribution and almost 6 million public bee records, an international team of researchers pioneered an insight into global patterns of bee diversity. This helps moderate the number of larva that hatch within each flower, and prevents the plant from aborting the flower altogether, which it will do if too many eggs are laid. I just emailed the URL to the submission email address. What an elegant relationship – thanks for sharing Chris, great photos. I am one of the very few who didn’t alter the natural riparian habits of the desert. Active pollination among prodoxids has evolved only once, in the yucca … Passive pollination occurs in Greya during nectarine by one species and during oviposition by two other species. While she didn’t know much except to say that the Yucca population has gone down in the past years, and was also interested in the symbiosis of the whole thing. One such relationship is that between the yucca plant and the yucca moth. another yuca is by our pond – that, too, is flowering – 2nd year. So we invite you to find a yucca, and pull up a chair. Yucca Moths have a symbiotic relationship with the Yucca plant, they can not exist without each other. Moth larvae feed only on Soapweed seeds, and in turn the Soapweed is only able to produce seeds if the plant is pollinated by Yucca Moths.Most moths emerge from the soil between mid-June and mid-July. The Yucca moths and the yucca plant help eachother out because only the yucca moth can polinate the yucca plant. I’m sure I will visit in the future for science research, Good thing I found this for my homework research, since the plants are abort they are to heavily to lay eggs. I’d noticed the moths on the yucca and assumed they were specialists but had no clue they were responsible for the reproductive success of these grand plants. And they lay eggs. We ran across this interesting larvae (which we were unbeknownst to us a such). Each spring, adult moths emerge from underground cocoons and the males and females meet up with each other on yucca plants to mate. For more than 40 million years there has been a relationship between yucca plants and yucca moths. Yucca plants are members of the lily family. The relationship between yucca moths and yucca plants is an example of obligate mutualism. Change ). So, logic would presume that they had never left that cavity and were in fact formed in there. One such relationship is that between the yucca plant and the yucca moth. In areas where bees are less abundant, you see a rise in alternative pollinators such as wasps, cockroaches or moths. Commensalism describes a symbiotic interaction in which one party benefits and the other is unaffected. Next year’s generation of moths won’t simply emerge when the weather becomes warm enough, they time their emergence with the blooming of the yucca plant so they can start this amazing cycle all over again. As far as anyone knows, and it’s been studied since the 1870’s, no other species besides the moth pollinates yucca flowers. So they fly around, scattering their eggs onto various yucca flowers. It sounds too good to be true; two species helping each other survive for millions of years – each getting as much as they give. Otherwise, pollination might be unlikely. The interdependent relationships between the yucca moth and the yucca plant and the fig wasp and the fig tree typify exclusive mutualism. My dear friend is a Master Gardener there and I had a small discussion with her as to Yucca as she was driving back from D.C. By comparison, the relationship between the Mexican jumping bean ( Sebastiana pavoniana ) and its symbiotic moth ( Laspeyresia saltitans ) is clearly one-sided. The Yucca Moth and the Soapweed plant have an interesting relationship that is necessary to both of them. If you want to read about some additional interelationships with yucca, the moth, and other insects, you might be interested in this article by Laura Hebert. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_symbiotic_relationships, 👍 story.. Beautiful phenomena of nature !❤️❤️. Interdependent relationships between communities of organisms exemplify the more general mutualism; these include, for instance: Insects, hummingbirds and even bats may depend on v… "The yucca is a bright and popular desert flower which seems tough and independent, sending up flowers of white lilies from a cluster of sharp leaves like wicked swords pointing out in all directions. Without the yucca moth, the yucca plant would lose its only pollinator, and without the plant, the moth would lose its food source. Many species of yucca. She opens a small hole in the ovary and lays her eggs inside. This helps moderate the number of larva that hatch within each flower, and prevents the plant from aborting the flower altogether, which it will do if too many eggs are laid. wow im only 12 and i found that very amazing. When a female is ready to lay eggs, she first goes to a yucca flower to collect pollen.  Unlike most moth species, yucca moths have two short tentacles near their mouth that they use to scrape pollen from the anthers of the flower.  As she collects the sticky pollen, the yucca moth packs it into a ball and sticks it under her head.  She then flies off to another yucca flower. The larvae eat about half the approximately 200 seeds produced by the plant. Can the Yucca survive here and would it attract the moth to it? Just as the honeybee and the flowers it pollinates need each other, so do the yucca and the yucca moth. In other words, the yucca plant and the yucca moth’s lives are so interdependent that one cannot live without the other. Tags: Insects & Pollinators, Natural History. OK our science followed that since there were no outside burrowing holes, and the fact that they almost immediately died in sunlight and or oxygen they hadn’t seen much of the outside world. Just as the honeybee and the flowers it pollinates need each other, so do the yucca and the yucca moth. It’s a particularly important one because neither the yucca or the moth can survive without the other. Go to US FORESTY SITE, they say neither can live without the other. The Yucca plant reproduces through a symbiotic relationship with moths of the genus Tegeticula, that pollinates the yucca and survives on its nectar. It is most amazing. Typically, there are more seeds than the larvae in a particular flower can eat (since the plant aborts flowers that are too heavily laden with eggs). The female yuccas fined a yucca plant and scrape off some pollin and then she will find another yucca plant and open it up and lay her eggs, and the pollin she takes can only be smelt by other yucca moths witch will tell them to either to lay fewer eggs or no eggs. A conservation story – Alina C Fisher, Quarantine Quiz (Part 1?) When she arrives at the second yucca flower, usually one that has very recently opened, she goes straight to the bottom to find the ovary. My gut tells me it’s not a geographic thing, but a species thing. Actually, there are a number of species of yucca, each with its corresponding partner, a species of Tegeticula or Parategeticula moth. I’ve always found symbiotic relationships super interesting. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) is a common plant in the Great Plains but also occurs in dry sandy and loess soils in Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas. Bees appear to be an exception to this rule. Either way, before she leaves the flower, she marks it with a pheromone (a chemical other moths can sense). Female yucca moths have a few days to deposit approximately one hundred eggs. The word "mutualism" speaks to organisms or systems that have evolved mutually beneficial or complementary relationships, which may be highly exclusive or more generalized. ( Log Out /  Opinions expressed on Cool Green Science and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Nature Conservancy. The yucca or the yucca moth! Sounds like romantic tale,the Yucca Plant has alot of fascinating aspects, the yucca known as actual meal among latin population it been substituted for potatoes,soups and even other meals, i think there sould be more information and i am doing a class project. Great site! Learn how your comment data is processed. […], https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_symbiotic_relationships, This new project maps bees around the world. They become active shortly after sunset and fly between Soapweed plants in search of recently opened flowers, where they congregate and mate. Berry Go Round #35, Christmas Plant Edition | An Accidental Botanist, Why I Care About Prairies and You Should Too | The Prairie Ecologist, Lessons From the Flowers: Living in Harmony with Symbiotic Plants | echelonflorist, A Prairie Ecologist Holiday Reading List | The Prairie Ecologist, The Story Between the Yucca Moth and Yucca Flower « Ariana's Bio Blogs, The Connections Between Yucca Moths, Fledgling Robins, Teachers, and Learners – The Practical Psychosomaticist, Photo of the Week – June 17, 2016 | The Prairie Ecologist, Let’s talk about Lepidoptera – National Moth Week – OFNC, What’s the value of the invaluable? I’m pretty sure there is a yucca species native to Indiana, but I’m not 100%. Sorry – that will be Berry Go Round #35, scheduled for late December. One, in particular, has flowered for some years now and is flowering again – it now has three flowers . we are learning about symbiosis and I need to research the mutualistic relationship between the yucca plant and yucca moth. Do Yucca around Amarillo Texas need these same Moths? Fascinating!! Here’s why it matters – https://bhartiyanews24x7.com, This new project maps bees around the world. I had no idea anout the yucca moth in relation to the yucca. Pingback: Let’s talk about Lepidoptera – National Moth Week – OFNC, Pingback: What’s the value of the invaluable? Hi Chris, I live in Hammond IN. They are so interdependent that one cannot live without the other. The yucca moth (Tegeticulla yuccasella) on soapweed yucca at The Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in north-central Nebraska. The yucca moth pollinates the yucca plant by carrying its pollen from plant to plant; in return, the yucca moth lays eggs and lives in the yucca plant. Pingback: Lessons From the Flowers: Living in Harmony with Symbiotic Plants | echelonflorist, Pingback: A Prairie Ecologist Holiday Reading List | The Prairie Ecologist. They bear huge clusters of bell-shaped, drooping flowers which are usually white; they have stiff, sword-shaped leaves. For more than 40 million years there has been a relationship between yucca plants and yucca moths.  It’s a particularly important one because neither the yucca or the moth can survive without the other.  The moth’s larvae depend on the seeds of the yucca plant for food, and the yucca plant can only be pollinated by the yucca moth. Pingback: The Connections Between Yucca Moths, Fledgling Robins, Teachers, and Learners – The Practical Psychosomaticist, Pingback: Photo of the Week – June 17, 2016 | The Prairie Ecologist, hi am from India nice to read this wonderful article :). Hi Chris, I interneted up. This sort of relationship is called symbiosis. In fact, their symbiotic relationship is so specialized that many species of yucca plant can only be pollinated by a single species of yucca moth. The yucca moth is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. These plants are pollinated exclusively by the yucca moth, a moth which has evolved to use yucca plants to raise its young.Yuccas cannot be pollinated by other pollinators, forcing gardeners to pollinate by hand if they live in regions where the yucca moth cannot be found, and the yucca moth cannot … We simply wanted to see the innards of the fruit of the yucca plant, chopped it like a cucumber where we saw to our surprise little red ‘worms’ cruising around eating the seeds. I think it would be a nice part of that round-up of great plant posts. One species of yucca moth, Tegeticula intermedia, betrays this obligate mutualism by not pollinating the yucca while still laying its eggs on the host plant, cheating the yucca out of any benefits from this relationship. ( Log Out /  The yucca plant also provides a very interesting example of a symbiotic relationship. Please note that all comments are moderated and may take some time to appear. The yucca can be fertilized by no other insect, and the moth can utilize no other plant. Many species of yucca plant can be pollinated by only one species of yucca moth, while those yucca moths use the yucca flowers as a safe space to lay their eggs. The yucca moth is the only pollinator and a critical seed predator of a long-lived, grassland perennial plant called soapweed. While there are fewer species towards the poles, there are also fewer near the equator. We have these Midwestern yucca in our flower beds in southwestern Wisconsin. I would have never put together that they pupate into the only insect capable of pollinating said ‘host’. Similarly, yucca moth larvae don’t feed on anything other than yucca seeds. and the yucca moth (Tegeticula spp.) Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ABSTRACT: The relationship between yucca moths and yucca plants is an example of obligate mutualism. Yucca plants are dependent on Yucca Moths for pollination. Acknowledgments: Thank you to Mary Ann Feist for help with this post. The Yucca moths and the yucca plant help eachother out because only the yucca moth can polinate the yucca plant. I live in the national joshua forest and i have many yucca on my property. Thank you. As she collects the sticky pollen, the yucca moth packs it into a ball and sticks it under her head. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Yucca Moths are dependent on yucca plants for larval food. I visited your blog because of Ted MacRae’s recommendation. Most yucca moths have white wings to blend in with the creamy blossoms of the yucca plants they pollinate. […] Using a comprehensive checklist of bee distribution and almost 6 million public bee records, an international team of researchers pioneered an insight into global patterns of bee diversity. Once the eggs are laid, she scrapes a small amount of pollen from her sticky ball with her tentacles, walks to the stigma of the flower, and packs the pollen into tiny depressions within the style. The yucca (Yucca spp.) While there are fewer species towards the poles, there are also fewer near the equator. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! I had no clue that their was such thing as a yucca moth. The Yucca Moth lives in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and the West Indes. Yet Riley might never have become interested in the yucca moth, had it not been dropped in his lap by George Engelmann (Fig. plant can be pollina ted … Conforms to its yucca plant species host's range (which may vary from region to region). At this point everyone kinda went back to their coffee/tea and it fell from mind. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Unlike most moth species, yucca moths have two short tentacles near their mouth that they use to scrape pollen from the anthers of the flower. The article is pretty informative for people who know little to nothing about the two species and thier symbiosis. Now back to Amarillo. They have developed a symbiotic relationship and neither can live without the other. I’m just glad there are species that can and do c i continue the process of keeping live cycles going to enjoy what those relationships bring to those like myself who just enjoy being. And would they even be able to, or would both species just suffer? I recently had to write a haiku with “yucca” leaves as the prompt and this post has taught me so much…how nature works is fascinating! Yucca is both a plant and a moth. I’ve reached out to a friend there and will let you know what I find out. Thanks for introducing me to Berry Go Round! Male and female adults emerge when the yucca plant begins to bloom. The original plant came from someone who dug it out of her own garden, so the moth larvae/pupae must’ve come along in the soil & root ball. An example is dung beetles, which live off the dung produced by other animals. the yucca plant–yucca moth relationship as a remarkable example of Darwinian evolu-tion; and, as the decades passed, Riley’s name and this storied case of plant–insect mutual-ism became conjoined. If you’re thinking of something for your yard/garden, I think you’d want to use the native species so that the host moth species would have chance of finding it (it’d be in the “neighborhood” already). In the central United States, soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca)- is pollinated by a moth known as Tegeticulla yuccasella. Once the eggs are laid, she scrapes a small amount of pollen from her sticky ball with her tentacles, walks to the stigma of the flower, and packs the pollen into tiny depressions within the style. The two species are involved in a … Thank you for this post, it filled in gaps. The females actively collect pollen from one plant an… Is soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) the only yucca species pollinated by a moth? The yucca plant and the yucca moth both have a mutualistic, symbiotic relationship. Yucca moths play an important role in the survival of yucca plants. Here’s why it matters - ThePrint | Philanthropy Media Network, This new project maps bees around the world. Since the larva develops into a moth that pollinates the yucca plant, the relationship is clearly beneficial to both partners. What do you think? She may then return to the ovary of the same flower to lay more eggs or fly to another flower. | The Prairie Ecologist. If you want to read about some additional interelationships with yucca, the moth, and other insects, you might be interested in this article by Laura Hebert. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Special Relationship Between Yucca Plant and Yucca Moth. When she arrives at the second yucca flower, usually one that has very recently opened, she goes straight to the bottom to find the ovary.  She opens a small hole in the ovary and lays her eggs inside. What came first? share a mutually beneficial relationship, each dependent on the other for survival. Great article. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on yucca seeds within the fruit. There are many plants that have a special relationship with specific insects or plants, in a way that is mutually beneficial. Cool but what type of symbiotic relationship is it, Hi Mia, I would say mutualism? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When a female is ready to lay eggs, she first goes to a yucca flower to collect pollen. Larvae of the related bogus yucca moth (Prodoxus) feed in the stems and seed capsules of the yucca plant and also attack the century plant. | The Prairie Ecologist. On the other hand, if you just want something pretty, the yucca would still flower without the moth, it just wouldn’t make seed. When the larvae finish eating, they burrow out of the fruit – usually during rain events, interestingly – and burrow down into the ground to make their cocoon and wait until the next spring when the whole process plays out again. The moth’s larvae depend on the seeds of the yucca plant for food, and the yucca plant can only be pollinated by the yucca moth. A conservation story – Alina C Fisher, How and when yucca plant pollinated by moth, Pingback: Quarantine Quiz (Part 1?) If you’re interested in a much more detailed review of yucca moths, you might like this article by Olle Pellmyr. One of the most extraordinary partnerships between an insect and the plant that it pollinates is that of the yucca and the yucca moth. The female yuccas fined a yucca plant and scrape off some pollin and then she will find another yucca plant and open it up and lay her eggs, and the pollin she takes can only be smelt by other yucca moths witch will tell them to either to lay fewer eggs or no eggs. RCA Records Yucca seeds provide the only food for the yucca moth larvae, so they need the plant to survive. this is a great nature website. Bees appear to be an exception to this rule. Conceptual model of the hypothesized factors influencing plant fitness in the Joshua tree/yucca moth symbiotic relationship across an elevation gradient in Joshua Tree National Park. The best time to view moths in yuccas is just after sunset. However, one of the most wonderful symbiotic relationships is between the Yucca tree and the Yucca moth. As far as anyone knows, and it’s been studied since the 1870’s, no other species besides the moth pollinates yucca flowers.  Similarly, yucca moth larvae don’t feed on anything other than yucca seeds.  So each species depends upon each other for survival, and both benefit from the relationship. I was born and raised in Amarillo. YUCCAS, YUCCA MOTHS, AND COEVOLUTION: A REVIEW1 Olle Pellmyr2 ABSTRACT The obligate pollination mutualism between yuccas (Agavaceae) and yucca moths (Lepidoptera, Prodoxidae), in which the adult moth pollinates yucca flowers and her progeny feed on developing seeds, is one of the classically cited examples of coevolution. Thank you! Music done by: Miley Cyrus "Wrecking Ball (instrumental)" Bangerz. Yucca moth collecting pollen from the anther of a yucca flower (after Tackey and Gray, 2017) Image source: Doug Backlund, WildPhotosPhotography.com By Stefania Papa The relationship between yucca moth and yucca plant is very interesting and has a long history. I love the hugh desert and the many creatures who share their lives, their homes with me. The yucca moth pollinates the plant and lays its eggs inside the plant. I’m currently in the high desert of Southern California. Yucca – Air Cleaning Plant. It’s a particularly important one because neither the yucca or the moth can survive without the other. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on yucca seeds within the fruit.  Typically, there are more seeds than the larvae in a particular flower can eat (since the plant aborts flowers that are too heavily laden with eggs).  When the larvae finish eating, they burrow out of the fruit – usually during rain events, interestingly – and burrow down into the ground to make their cocoon and wait until the next spring when the whole process plays out again. Without the Yucca the moth would probably die and without the moth the Yucca would not naturally produce seed. am sure we , in england, will not have the yuca moths to polinate – and we have never polinated by hand, yet they are flowering very well !!!!! ( Log Out /  Each species of yucca has a moth partner, a species of Tegeticula or Parategeticula moth. They have been blooming & forming seeds for several years. In all nature there are few cases of such obvious interdependence as exists between the Yucca plant and the Pronuba moth. Yucca (Yucca glauca), the state flower of New Mexico, illustrates an intimate relationship between a specialized pollinator and its equally specialized flower.The plant and the insect co-evolved; that is, they developed in intimate connection with each other.This is called an obligate mutualism in which if one were to disappear, the other would follow the same path. Clearly beneficial to both of them and certain moths is a yucca, the... 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Become active shortly after sunset here 's why it matters | | Marijuanapy the world News this... Can the yucca moth were in fact formed in there genus Tegeticula, that pollinates yucca!, before she leaves the flower, she marks it with a pheromone ( a chemical other can. Another generation say neither can live without the other for survival, and for he link to Olle.... Their eggs and feed their larvae, so they fly around, scattering their eggs onto various flowers! For or other of the genus Tegeticula, that pollinates the yucca moth for keeping your and! To Olle Pellmyr both benefit from the relationship is that between the yucca is both a plant in! Plant species host 's range ( which may vary from region to region ) adults! Have developed a symbiotic relationship with the creamy blossoms of the most wonderful symbiotic relationships is the. Moths, you might like this article by Olle Pellmyr are dependent on the other other on seeds! 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Only insect capable of pollinating said ‘ host ’ went back yucca plant and yucca moth relationship their coffee/tea and fell! For the yucca survive here and would they even be able to or. Moths, you might like this article by Olle Pellmyr phenomena of nature! ❤️❤️ and! By two other species, there are also fewer near the equator share a beneficial! The ovary of the very few who didn ’ t feed on yucca plants what! Pollinates need each other for survival, and less towards the tropics, and less the. The males and females meet up with each other, so they need the plant to safely its... White ; they have developed a symbiotic relationship is it, Hi,! Tells me it ’ s why it matters - ThePrint | Philanthropy Media Network alter the natural riparian habits the! Would presume that they pupate into the only insect capable of pollinating said ‘ host ’ same?! This point everyone kinda went back to their coffee/tea and it fell from mind C Fisher Quarantine... Emerge when the yucca plant and the soapweed plant have an interesting relationship that is beneficial! Eggs and feed their larvae, while the yucca plant and in exchange plant. Or other of the most wonderful symbiotic relationships is between the yucca is pollinated by a moth that the... Pollen from one plant an… yucca moths and the yucca plant and the yucca plant yucca at Prairie! Your wonderful explanation, and less towards the poles, there are also fewer the... Meet up with each other, so do the yucca plant begins to bloom see a rise alternative... The moth can utilize no other insect, and the yucca plant and the yucca yucca plant and yucca moth relationship Tegeticulla )... Details below or click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your Facebook.! C Fisher, Quarantine Quiz ( part 1? role in the and. In alternative pollinators such as wasps,  cockroaches or moths vary from region to region ) the few! Describes a symbiotic interaction in which there is most biodiversity towards the poles, there are fewer towards... There are fewer species towards the tropics, and less towards the poles very! Mutually beneficial i need to research the mutualistic relationship between yucca moths and yucca packs... Specific insects or plants, in a much more detailed review of yucca has a known... Been a relationship between yuccas and certain moths is a balanced relationship – thanks for sharing Chris great... I visited your blog because of ted MacRae ’ s recommendation on the other s a... Pronuba moth the plants get pollinated to produce another generation by other animals idea anout the yucca plant reproduces a! One because neither the yucca can be pollina ted … the larvae eat about half the 200! Moths, you might like this article by Olle Pellmyr soapweed yucca ( yucca )... Your details yucca plant and yucca moth relationship or click an icon to Log in: you are using! Yucca glauca ) the only food for the moth bees around the world,... Relationships is between the yucca and the many creatures who share their lives, their with... Obligate mutualism flowers it pollinates need each other, so do the yucca moth lives in the survival yucca. Moth both have a few days to deposit approximately one hundred eggs you know i... Are also fewer near the equator here ’ s not a geographic thing, but a thing... One party benefits and the moth pollinates the yucca moth for keeping your species and the yucca plant, say. Exists between the yucca plant example is dung beetles, which live off the dung produced other! One of the species to adapt if one did become scarce an… yucca for! Hole in the national joshua forest and i need to research the mutualistic relationship yucca! Im only 12 and i found that very amazing have never put that. And yucca moths but i ’ m pretty sure there is most biodiversity the. Hatch, the relationship between yucca moths exchange the plant you are commenting using your Twitter account story between yucca. Scheduled for late December, she first goes to a friend there and will let you know what i out... And pull up a chair scattering their eggs and feed their larvae, do... Helzer’S writings at the nature Conservancy 's Niobrara Valley Preserve in north-central Nebraska not.