Ants and yucca pollination

Forums: 
Desert 'Alpines'

Ants and yucca pollination.

I can't belive a yucca moth would want to land on the only yucca with ants on it. I have seed on my yuccas but only when the ants attack them, never on the ones ants leave alone.
I have seen this several times in the past years, and yes the produce seed. I have wild yuccas that have popped up from this seed.
Has anyone else had yuccas produce seed without the help of yucca moths?


Comments

Lori S.'s picture

Lori S. (not verified)

Wed, 07/11/2012 - 7:14pm

I've had a few pods with what appeared to be viable seed develop on Yucca filamentosa... I didn't observe whether it was ants or something else pollinating it but there are definitely no yucca moths here!

DesertZone's picture

DesertZone (not verified)

Thu, 07/12/2012 - 11:30am

That is interesting, seems like nature finds a way in same cases. :)