Before industrialization it was observed that there were more white winged moths on trees than dark winged moths Why?

Options

A. White winged moth was due to recessive allele .
B. Dark winged moth appeared due to mutation in some white winged moths
C. Life span of dark winged moth was shorter than white winged
D. Predators spotted dark moths against a contrasting backgound and white winged moths were naturally selected.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution

1. **Observation of Moth Populations**: Before industrialization, there was a higher population of white-winged moths compared to dark-winged moths on trees.

2. **Environmental Conditions**: The environment before industrialization was non-polluted, allowing for the growth of lichens on tree bark. These lichens were typically light-colored.

3. **Camouflage and Predation**: The white-winged moths, which are also known as peppered moths, had a coloration that matched the light-colored lichens. This camouflage helped them blend into their surroundings effectively.

4. **Survival from Predators**: Because the white-winged moths blended in with the lichens on the tree bark, they were less likely to be spotted and eaten by predators. This led to a higher survival rate for the white-winged moths.

5. **Natural Selection**: The phenomenon where the white-winged moths were better camouflaged and thus had a higher chance of survival is an example of natural selection. Over time, this resulted in a greater number of white-winged moths in the population.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, before industrialization, the white-winged moths were more common than dark-winged moths because they were better adapted to their environment, allowing them to avoid predation.