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Silver birch tree with peppered moth
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Silver birch tree with peppered moth
Silver birch tree, Betula pendula, with peppered moth, Biston betularia, caterpillar and pupa. Handcoloured lithograph from Carl Hoffmanns Book of the World, Stuttgart, 1848
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Media ID 23182726
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Betula Birch Biston Buch Carl Caterpillar Educational Hoffmann Moth Peppered Pupa Welt Betularia Pendula
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "Nature's Camouflage: A Silver Birch Tree and the Peppered Moth" This exquisite handcoloured lithograph, taken from Carl Hoffmann's "Das Buch der Welt" or "The Book of the World," published in Stuttgart in 1848, showcases the intriguing relationship between a Silver Birch tree (Betula pendula) and the Peppered Moth (Biston betularia). The image captures the tree's graceful silhouette against a backdrop of the English countryside, adorned with its characteristic peeling bark, while the moth's caterpillar and pupa blend seamlessly into the tree's bark. The Peppered Moth, with its cryptic coloration, is a classic example of industrial melanism – a phenomenon where the environment selects for darker coloration in response to pollution. During the early 19th century, the Industrial Revolution led to increased air pollution from coal burning, which darkened the tree bark. The once conspicuous light-colored Peppered Moth caterpillars became an easy prey for birds. However, the darker moths, like the one depicted in this illustration, were better camouflaged against the polluted trees and survived. This image not only highlights the beauty of nature but also demonstrates the profound impact of environmental changes on the survival and evolution of species. It is a testament to the intricate balance between organisms and their environment and the continuous adaptation that shapes our natural world.
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