Biston betularia (photo)

Biston betularia, peppered moth, Photographed in the Wildlife Garden at the Natural History Museum, London. These moths are extremely hard to spot when at rest on tree bark due to their excellent camouflage. - Biston Also an example of recent natural selection; in Britain during the industrial revolution and up until the mid 20th century, darker peppered moths were prevalent, as they were better camouflaged against soot-covered tree trunks and walls in industrial areas. Since the rise of electrical power in the later 20th and early 21st century, numbers of dark peppered moths have sharply declined, and numbers of lighter moths, like the one pictured, have risen.