Yucca moths typically lay about six eggs in a yucca flower. If a biologist were to experimentally add 12 moth eggs to a yucca flower, what would be the most likely result?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Yucca moths have a mutualistic relationship with yucca plants, in which the moth pollinates the flower while laying its eggs in the flower's ovules. However, if too many eggs are laid in a flower, the plant can selectively abort that flower to prevent damage to its reproductive success. Therefore, the most likely result of adding 12 moth eggs to a yucca flower would be that the plant would selectively abort that flower.

Yucca Moths Typically Lay About Six Eggs in a Yucca