Peppered Moth Example

Definition

The Peppered Moth Example is a classic case of natural selection where the population of moths in industrial areas of England changed from mostly light-colored to mostly dark-colored due to pollution. This change was because dark-colored moths were better camouflaged against soot-covered trees, making them less likely to be eaten by predators.

Analogy

Imagine you're playing a game of hide and seek in a snow-covered field. If you're wearing white clothes, you'll blend in and be harder for the seeker to find (like the light-colored moths on unpolluted trees). But if someone dumps a load of black soil all over the field, suddenly your white clothes make you stand out and easy to find (like light-colored moths on sooty trees). However, anyone wearing black clothes now has an advantage (like the dark-colored moths).

Related terms

Natural Selection: The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Camouflage: An adaptation that allows animals to blend in with certain aspects of their environment.

Predation: The preying of one animal on others.