Cycad plant depends on insect for multiple services; Moth also triggers the plants into increased frequency of reproduction
Monday, June 14, 2010 - 00:21
in Biology & Nature
When a plant endemic to several islands in the Western Pacific Ocean taps the services of a helpful insect, a double-dose of benefits comes its way. The plant is a member of a unique group of plants known as cycads, which produce their seeds in cones rather than within fruits. The insect is a tiny moth currently known to exist only on the islands of Guam and Rota.