Peppered Moth

Peppered Moth

Where do peppered moths live?

How do the moth larvae survive predators?

What do the moths do during the winter?

What color is the “typica” version of the moths?

What color is the “carbonaria” version?

How do adult moths survive predation?

Natural Selection

6. What was the industrial revolution?What was causing the change in the color of the moths?
7. What is natural selection?

The Correct Answer And Explanation is:

Peppered Moth:

1. Where do peppered moths live?
   Peppered moths (Biston betularia) are commonly found in wooded areas, including deciduous forests, parks, and gardens. They prefer areas where there is a variety of trees with a mix of light and dark bark, which helps them camouflage from predators.
2. How do the moth larvae survive predators?
   The larvae of peppered moths, also known as caterpillars, are typically green or brown in color, which helps them blend in with leaves and tree branches. This camouflage provides protection from predators like birds, which rely on sight to hunt.
3. What do the moths do during the winter?
   Adult peppered moths typically die after mating and laying eggs. The eggs hatch in the spring, and the larvae begin their life cycle. During the winter, the eggs of the moths remain dormant until the warmer spring temperatures trigger hatching.
4. What color is the “typica” version of the moths?
   The “typica” version of the peppered moth is light-colored, with a speckled pattern of white, gray, and black. This coloration allows the moth to blend in with the lichen-covered tree bark, offering protection from predators.
5. What color is the “carbonaria” version?
   The “carbonaria” version is dark or black. This color variation evolved due to environmental changes during the Industrial Revolution, when pollution darkened the surfaces of trees and rocks, providing better camouflage for the darker moths.
6. How do adult moths survive predation?
   Adult moths primarily rely on camouflage to survive predation. The “typica” version camouflages against lichen-covered bark, while the “carbonaria” version is better camouflaged on darkened trees. When they rest on tree trunks or branches, their color helps them avoid detection by predators like birds.

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Natural Selection:

1. What was the Industrial Revolution?
   The Industrial Revolution, which began in the late 18th century and continued into the 19th century, was a period of significant industrialization. It led to the growth of factories, urbanization, and an increase in the use of coal, which contributed to pollution in the environment. This pollution caused the soot from factories to cover the surfaces of trees and rocks, darkening them.
2. What was causing the change in the color of the moths?
   The color change in the peppered moths was driven by the increase in pollution during the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the industrialization, light-colored moths were more common, as they blended in well with the light-colored, lichen-covered tree bark. However, with the pollution, the dark-colored moths (“carbonaria”) became more common, as their coloration helped them blend in with the soot-covered trees. This phenomenon is a classic example of natural selection, where the environmental changes favored darker moths over lighter ones.
3. What is natural selection?
   Natural selection is the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing. Traits that enhance survival in a given environment become more common in a population over time. In the case of the peppered moth, the darker moths had a better chance of surviving on soot-darkened trees, while lighter moths became more visible to predators. Over generations, the proportion of dark-colored moths increased, illustrating how natural selection can drive changes in a population’s characteristics based on environmental factors.