Peppered Moth (Biston betularia): The peppered moth is a classic example of natural selection through camouflage. Normally pale with speckled wings resembling lichen-covered bark, a dark (melanic) form emerged during the Industrial Revolution. Soot-darkened trees made light moths visible to birds, while dark moths survived better. As pollution decreased, the light form regained dominance. This shift provided key evidence for evolutionary theory. The moth rests on tree trunks during the day, relying entirely on camouflage. Its story shows how environmental change directly impacts survival through visual predation, making it one of the most studied examples of adaptive coloration in history.
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