Yucca Moth and Chaparral Yucca Original Painting

Acrylic on watercolor paper, 2012

11 x 11” framed; archival matboard, black metal frame

Yucca moths have a very compelling pollination story—a female moth collects pollen from one yucca plant and carries it to another, then lays her eggs on the flower’s ovary; emerging larvae eat some, but not all, of the developing yucca seeds. The plant gets dependable pollination services, and the moth gets a reliable source of food for her offspring. As a bonus for a painter interested in pollination, yucca moths are extremely cute.