|
As this moth shows the phenomenon of industrial melanism, this moth has become very famous and controversial. It is known as visual proof of Darwin’s greatest discovery of evolution by natural selection. The correct colouring of this moth is white with black speckles across the wings, but in the early nineteenth century it was noticed that a black form was becoming more common, especially in towns and cities, because the dark form was better camouflaged on black trees. caused through smoke pollution during the industrial revolution in the UK. As air pollution became reduced through legislation, the black form became less common and the white form began to return, as it better camouflaged on lichen coloured trees, as my photograph above shows. Whatever you believe it is a interesting story. every night I set my moth trap I find many Peppered moths but they are always the white form, only in 1974 did I ever see and photograph a darker form but not black, see picture above right.
|
