Further Studies on the Industrial Melanic Moth Biston betularia (L.) in the Northwest of the British Isles

The frequencies of the three phenotypes carbonaria, insularia and typical of the moth Biston betularia are given for a number of new localities and new samples from old localities in northwest England and the Isle of Man. In one locality (Caldy) the frequency of carbonaria has been decreasing at the...

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Published inProceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing papers of a biological character Vol. 194; no. 1117; p. 467
Main Authors Whittle, P D, Clarke, C, Sheppard, P M, Bishop, J A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England The Royal Society 12.11.1976
Subjects
Adaptation, Biological
Animals
Lepidoptera - physiology
Moths - physiology
Phenotype
Polymorphism, Genetic
Predatory Behavior
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Summary:The frequencies of the three phenotypes carbonaria, insularia and typical of the moth Biston betularia are given for a number of new localities and new samples from old localities in northwest England and the Isle of Man. In one locality (Caldy) the frequency of carbonaria has been decreasing at the rate of 1% per three years since 1959, probably due to the introduction of smokeless zones. Two methods have been used to measure the relative degree of camouflage at Caldy, where the melanic is common, and in the Isle of Man where it is much rarer. In Caldy carbonaria was the better camouflaged, but there was no evidence for this on the Isle of Man. One possible selective agent not previously reported is the bat, P. pipistrellus. The role of moth movement over land and water is discussed in relation to the maintenance of the polymorphism and the steepness of the clines between North Wales and Liverpool.
ISSN:0962-8452
0950-1193
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.1976.0089