Peppered moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peppered moth |
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| Biston betularia betularia morpha typica | |
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Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
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| Scientific classification | |
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Biston
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B. betularia
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| Biston betularia |
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The Peppered moth (Biston betularia) is a species of night-flying moth. They are often used by educators as an example of natural selection: they have two forms, one is dark and one is light. The story of their evolution is told on Peppered moth evolution.
Contents
Description
The wingspan is 55mm. median (45–62 mm.) It is relatively stout-bodied, with forewings relatively narrow-elongate. The wings are white, "peppered" with black, and with more or less distinct cross lines, also black. The black speckling varies in amount, in some examples it is almost absent, whilst in others it is so dense that the wings appear to be black sprinkled with white. The antennae of males are strongly bipectinate.
Distribution
Biston betularia is found in China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet), Russia, Mongolia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Europe and North America.
Images for kids
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Biston betularia caterpillars on birch (left) and willow (right), demonstrating twig mimicry and effective countershading.
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Figure 2a. Total number of observed moths = 59: Exposed trunk = 7; unexposed trunk = 7; trunk-branch joint = 23; branches = 22
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Figure 2b. Total number of observed moths = 23: Exposed trunk =1; unexposed trunk =1; trunk branch join = 3; branches thicker than 5 centimetres diameter = 10; branches and twigs less thick than 5 centimetres = 8
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Biston betularia betularia morpha typica, the white-bodied peppered moth.
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Biston betularia betularia morpha carbonaria, the black-bodied peppered moth.
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Subspecies parva (male)
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Subspecies parva (female)
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Subspecies Biston betularia nepalensis (male)
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Subspecies nepalensis (female)
See also
In Spanish: Mariposa de los abedules para niños
