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Yucca Moth Research Paper

615 Words3 Pages

The Symbiotic Relationship between Yucca Moths and Yucca Plants In nature, there are a variety of organisms that live in a symbiotic relationship with each other. This means that the two organisms, in this case, the yucca moth and plant, live in harmony with each other by helping sustain each other’s needs in life. This relationship can mutually benefit each other by providing nourishment for the organism, protection from predators, or shelter for one to breed or live over periods of time. As for the yucca moth and yucca plants, they depend solely on each other for sustaining their life. The moths rely heavily on the seeds from the yucca plants for nourishment for their larvae. The plant yucca plant is not able to pollinate itself with the wind like normal plants due to the location …show more content…

First, both the yucca moth and the flowers on the yucca plants are white; thus, the plant provides helpful protection through camouflage for the moth. Second, the plant is the moth’s main base for it to live and breed on. Finally, the yucca plant provide the moths and their offspring with the nourishment they will need. Once the larvae hatch from the egg planted in the seed, they will consume a small portion of the food developed in the seed. The larvae develops into a caterpillar and will then burrow in the ground at the base of the plant to form a cocoon. When the caterpillars hatches into butterflies in the spring, they will go up to live in the plant to lay their eggs and start the cycle over again. Summary and Conclusion The partnership between the yucca moth and yucca plant is vital because neither the yucca moth nor the yucca plants can live separately from each other. The moths help these plants by pollinating their flowers as they live on and around the yucca plants while the yucca plants support the yucca moth’s life by providing food and foundation for the moths to live, breed, and eat

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