Peppered moth  (Biston betularia)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

In its typical form, the Peppered Moth has pepper-and-salt camouflage pattern. In some areas it also has a sooty black or ‘melanic’ form known as carbonaria (2) (4). The long, stick-like caterpillar may be various shades of brown or green, with small warts and projections that resemble bark. The head is deeply notched (3).

left