Senita Cactus

Senita cactus and senita moths have an obligate relationship parallel to figs and fig wasps, but in the Sonoran Desert. The cactus produces pale flowers that open for a single night; the moth pollinates while laying eggs in some flowers. Moth larvae consume some developing seeds, but enough survive to reproduce. The relationship is so tight that neither species persists without the other.

The system differs from fig-wasp mutualism in balance of power. Senita moths also visit other cacti and can potentially survive without senita. Senita cactus has alternative pollinators (some honey bees visit the flowers) that provide backup reproduction. The mutualism is obligate in practice but has escape valves that fig-wasp systems lack.

The nocturnal timing reflects desert constraints. Daytime heat would desiccate flowers; nocturnal flowers avoid this stress and access nocturnal pollinators. The pale color and mild scent are optimized for night-flying moths rather than daytime bees. Every aspect of the partnership is shaped by the harsh desert environment.

The business insight is that parallel strategies evolve independently in similar environments. Senita-moth mutualism arose independently from fig-wasp mutualism but converged on similar structures. Companies in similar competitive environments often develop similar strategies not through imitation but through parallel response to parallel pressures. The business 'strategy' emerges from environmental constraints.