Summary: Syst. Biol. 55(3):398­410, 2006
Copyright c Society of Systematic Biologists
ISSN: 1063-5157 print / 1076-836X online
DOI: 10.1080/10635150600697325
Patterns of Speciation in the Yucca Moths: Parallel Species Radiations
within the Tegeticula yuccasella Species Complex
DAVID M. ALTHOFF,1,3
KARI A. SEGRAVES,1,3
JAMES LEEBENS-MACK,2
AND OLLE PELLMYR1
1
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3051, USA
2
Department of Biology & Life Sciences Consortium, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
3
Current Address: Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA; E-mail: dmalthof@syr.edu (D.M.A.)
Abstract.--The interaction between yuccas and yucca moths has been central to understanding the origin and loss of obligate
mutualism and mutualism reversal. Previous systematic research using mtDNA sequence data and characters associated
with genitalic morphology revealed that a widespread pollinator species in the genus Tegeticula was in fact a complex of
pollinator species that differed in host use and the placement of eggs into yucca flowers. Within this mutualistic clade

Source: Althoff, David M. - Department of Biology, Syracuse University
Pellmyr, Olle - Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho
Segraves, Kari A. - Department of Biology, Syracuse University

Collections: Biology and Medicine; Environmental Sciences and Ecology