The dark moths began to survive, reproduce and multiple. Now the light colored form of the moth is hardly seen. This is an excellent example of how environmental changes and pressures favor one variant of a species. It grasps the stem it is perched on with its hind-most prolegs and stiffly stretches its body into the air at an angle that resembles a stem. It remains motionless for long periods of time.
Bold patterns advertise that it is a protected insect.
Copyright 1997 Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society. All rights reserved.