Peppered Moth
Interesting Facts about the Peppered Moth
While there are many moth species in the world, few it seems have been so closely watched and examined as the peppered moth. Its contributions to the evolutionary world have been recorded in the aspect of natural selection; a debate of which continues to this day.
The peppered moth has two varieties of coloration: light and dark. However, there was a time when the light gray variety existed in much larger numbers than their darker counterparts. Prior to the year 1880, peppered moths of the lighter coloration were very common in England. Once the Industrial Revolution began in this country, however, that familiar sight changed. It is believed that, due to the industrial pollution that was generated in the late 1800’s scattered soot over a vast area in England where the light colored peppered moth lived. The dark soot covered the trees upon which the peppered moth was accustomed to rest. Previous to the pollution, the moths were nearly invisible on the lichen covered trees, keeping them safe from predatory birds. Once the trees were covered with the dark soot, the light colored moths were highly conspicuous, and were eaten in huge numbers by the birds.
The dark colored peppered moth, however, was well camouflaged against the dark sooted trees. For a time, these moths gained more strength in numbers than the lighter colored moth because of their invisible nature.
Since that time, pollution regulations have been instituted and, with standards improving the environment, forestry and plant life able to rebound and grow in their natural healthy format. With the increased protection of the camouflage provided by the pale barked trees, the light colored peppered moth has now regained its former populations and are again a common sight in England. These studies have been a matter of debate among evolutionists and creationists.
The peppered moth males fly nightly in search of receptive females with which to mate. The females release pheromones into the breeze that the males will follow. After mating, the male stands guard over the female as protector against other males. He remains until the female lays eggs, approximately 2,000 in a cluster. Nooks and crannies in tree bark are the nests where the eggs will remain until they hatch into caterpillars. As caterpillars, coloration will vary between green and brown depending on the twig it is on. It will migrate down to the soil to enter pupa stage where it will spend the winter. Between May and August, the pupae emerge as moths to continue the life cycle.
The peppered moth debate on the natural selection question continues even to this day, although the phenomenon occurred over 125 years ago. Different simulations are conducted to prove and disprove theories, but evidence clearly shows at least one fact: light colored peppered moths were in a majority before industrial pollution, but dropped to extreme levels until pollution standards improved when they regained their population. The scientific world continues to probe the world of the peppered moth.