The Yucca and the Prodoxidae

This story came across my path the other day and I so wanted to share such a wonderful relationship within nature that I couldn’t resist the temptation to post for those who may have a love or interest in Entomology (bugs) and Botany (plants).

Some clips were taken form “Wikipedia” in order to keep brief and too the point.

The Yuccas widely grown as ornamental plant in gardens and the plants flower stem can grow as long as 6 feet with a total plant height that can reach about 20 feet total. (Many grow wild where I live)

The large white flowers produces a strong perfume fragrance, this fragrance attracts the Prodoxidae (moth) that both pollenate and lay its eggs.

The moth larvae feeds on some the seed, always leaving enough seed to perpetuate the plant species.

Yuccas can only be pollinated by these moths and the larvae feed exclusively on the yucca seeds.