Peppered Moth - melanic form / dark phase

Peppered Moth - melanic form / dark phase. (Biston betularia). Essex, UK. The peppered moth has 2 colour forms, a normal light colour and a darker melanistic form. The dark form is an interesting example of industrial melanism. Over a period of time in the industrial areas, where vegetation is affected, the darker individuals have been more successful in avoiding predators. So the melanistic gene has had a survival advantage and now predominates in many industrial regions in the UK, Europe and US. In less polluted areas the light form survives well and the melanisitc gene does not have the advantage so the light form predominates

Betularia Biston Form Melanic Moths Peppered Phase

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