Yucca moth, Joshua tree coevolution fascinates researchers

Photos by Jessica Ebelhar

14 years ago

yucca_moths_t

moths slideshow 001

moths slideshow 002

moths slideshow 003

moths slideshow 004

moths slideshow 005

moths slideshow 006

moths slideshow 007

moths slideshow 008

moths slideshow 009

copyright_2011_RJ

Researcher Chris Smith and field assistant Candace Fallon introduce Yucca moths to blooms on Joshua trees in the Mojave desert during research, Apr. 07. This iconic plant of the Mojave Desert also provides a perfect example of what scientists call coevolution. The Joshua tree and the Yucca moth have developed together and now they entirely depend on one another for reproduction.