Industrial-melanism
Guides
Biston betularia
Peppered Moth
Biston betularia, the peppered moth, is a temperate night-flying geometrid moth native to Europe and northern Asia. The species is renowned as a textbook example of industrial melanism, with two principal color morphs: the pale, speckled 'typica' form and the dark 'carbonaria' form. Population frequencies of these morphs have shifted historically in response to environmental changes, particularly industrial pollution affecting substrate coloration. The species has been introduced to North America.
Ennominae
geometer moths
Ennominae is the largest subfamily of Geometridae, containing approximately 9,700 described species in 1,100 genera. Adults range from small to moderately large, with wingspans typically between 15 and 50 mm. The subfamily has a global distribution and includes several economically significant defoliating pest species. Larvae are characterized by having only two pairs of prolegs at the posterior end, producing the distinctive looping locomotion that gives the family its common name of inchworms or loopers.
Mesopsocus unipunctatus
barklouse
Mesopsocus unipunctatus is a small, flightless barklouse distributed across the Holarctic. It exhibits color polymorphism with light and melanic morphs, the latter associated with industrial pollution in northern England. The species inhabits bark surfaces of diverse trees and shrubs.