Abstract
The yucca moth Tegelicula yuccasella is the sole pollinator of Yucca elata, on yucca fruits to complete its life cycle. A high percentage of pollinated flowers aborts, killing the T. yuccasella eggs and larvae in them. We examined patterns of fruit production and abortion in Y. elata, and related these patterns to vegetative characteristics, moth abundance, and environmental conditions. We studied 38 inflorescences throughout their flowering period, during one season in southern New Mexico, USA. Each night we recorded the number of flowers opening, the number of fruit formed, the relative abundance of yucca moths, and climatic conditions. We monitored 11786 flowers, resulting in 699 mature fruit. Large inflorescences produced more, but proportionately fewer fruit than small inflorescences
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