How Does a Joshua Tree Depend on One Little Moth?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How does a Joshua tree depend on one little moth?

The Big Idea

A Joshua tree depends on one little moth, and the moth depends on the tree! It is a partnership where each one helps the other. They have been teammates for a very long time, and neither one can live well without the other.

Meet the Moth

Step one: meet the moth. Joshua trees are a type of yucca, and each one is visited by a small yucca moth. She flies to the creamy flowers and collects sticky pollen.

Pollen Delivery

Step two: deliver the pollen. The moth carries the pollen to another flower and packs it on carefully. That is how the tree can make seeds.

Fair Trade

Step three: a fair trade. In return, the moth lays eggs in the flower, and her caterpillars eat a few of the seeds. Plenty of seeds are left over to grow into new Joshua trees.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The Joshua tree grows big, creamy flowers. The moth visits them at night. She moves pollen from flower to flower. And that helps the tree grow seeds.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! This partnership has lasted for millions of years. Without the moth, the tree could not make seeds. Without the tree, the moth's babies would have no food. Look at Joshua trees from a path, and never climb them.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw a picture of a moth and a flower, with an arrow each way. The arrows show what they give each other. What does the moth get, and what does the tree get? Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

A moth and a tree help each other. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!