UNI101Y1 Study Guide - Coevolution, Ovipositor
16 Feb 2013
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Bio120h lisa zhao 2011 | page 6. Oollllee ppeellllmmyyrr - pollination mutualism b/w yucca and yucca moths display. Female yucca moth (genus tegeticula) carry balls of pollen w/ specialized mouthparts. Enters flower, makes cut in ovary with her ovipositor, and deposits 1-15 eggs. It crawls to the top of the pistil and deposits pollen on stigma to ensure fertilization of flower to produce seeds for offspring. She may then scrape some pollen off anters and add to the ball she is carrying. Obligate mutualism: moth larvae can"t grow anywhere else, and yucca has no other pollinator. # of eggs laid is regulated by yucca if too many eggs, majority of seeds are eaten flower is aborted larvae die. Resources that would have supported the production of seeds in the aborted flower are diverted to other flowers (thus maintaining overall seed production) Sticky pollen easily formed into a ball. Stigma is specially modified as a receptacle to receive pollen.
