Which plant genus has a famous obligate pollination partnership with yucca moths?

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The plant genus with a famous obligate pollination partnership with yucca moths is Yucca.

Yucca moths and yucca plants have one of the best-known examples of obligate mutualism. Female moths actively collect yucca pollen and place it on the stigma of a yucca flower. She then lays eggs in the flower's ovary, giving the developing larvae access to some seeds.

The moth benefits by feeding its offspring, while the plant receives pollination. Yucca plants can abort flowers or fruit when too many eggs are laid, which helps limit the cost of the relationship.

The partnership is associated especially with moths in the genera Tegeticula and Parategeticula. It is more specialized than ordinary flower visitation, because both partners depend strongly on the interaction.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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