Moths native to England mysteriously changed their camouflage process as scientists identified how these insects adapted to the Industrial evolution when their environment was filled with darker trees, buildings and factories, that are all darkened by soot.

In this new study, researchers from the University of Cambridge have identified the Biston betularia or peppered moth's genes that are responsible for this process and also for other tropical species' brightly colored wings.

Like Us on Facebook

The cortex gene is responsible for the vivid colors of butterflies and patterns on moths, which includes these dramatic changes on the peppered moths' wings during the 19th century. This particular genetic code promotes cell division however, not until this new study, it is still a mystery to scientists how moths and butterflies change the color of their wings.

According to Chris Jiggins from the University of Cambridge, the surprising finding here is that this exact gene is not only the driving agent that changes that colors of the vivid wings of butterflies to ward off predators of their toxicity but moths apparently also use this gene to change into dark colors to hide in their habitat. However, among hundreds of wing genes, why is the cortex gene the only one that works every time, he asks.

The wings of insects involve scales so tiny that they form multiple layers in alternating rows. During the early 19th century, these peppered moths were originally light, salt and pepper in coloration which is advantageous for hiding in light colored trees. However during the industrial revolution a few years later, air pollution killed off lichen on these trees, transforming them into blackened trees.

This process is now called the industrial melanism, however scientists have known about this for a long time. With this new finding, identifying the exact genes that are responsible for changing into darker colors when it comes to moths' wings can now be linked to the brilliantly colored wings of the tropical Heliconius butterflies that are indigenous in South America.

Researchers were surprised how this genetic code responsible for moths and butterflies wings are also found in different regions and climates around the world. This new study is published in the journal Nature.

Tagspeppered moth, industrial revolution, moth wings, buttefly wings, genes moth butterfly wings