Biston betularia

views updated May 18 2018

Biston betularia (peppered moth; order Lepidoptera) Moth which has been the subject of classical studies of industrial melanism, where there is selective predation by birds upon light moths that are conspicuous against a dark, sooty background, and, conversely, upon dark moths (the carbonaria form) against a light, soot-free background.

Biston betularia

views updated May 21 2018

Biston betularia(peppered moth) A moth (order Lepidoptera) which has been the subject of classical studies of industrial melanism, where there is selective predation by birds upon light moths that are conspicuous against a dark, sooty background, and conversely upon dark moths (the carbonaria form) against a light, soot-free background.