Yucca Flowers Are Pollinated Only by Yucca Moths, Which Lay

Yucca flowers are pollinated only by yucca moths, which lay their eggs in the flowerʹs ovary. This interaction ensures that the plant has seed for the next plant generation and that the moth larvae have a food source to develop. What is a potential disadvantage or vulnerability of this very specialized plant-animal interaction?

A) Pollination can occur only during the day, but the moths are most active at night.
B) The plant ovary may be consumed by the larvae, which would kill all the developing seeds.
C) Other moths that do not serve as pollinators may outcompete the yucca moths.
D) If the moths are exterminated by insecticides, the plant-animal interaction ceases and the plant will no longer be pollinated or reproduce.

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