Populations of moths living in urban places may have evolved smaller wings to limit how much bright city lights disrupt their lives
Moths trying to survive in bright cities may have evolved smaller wings to limit how much they are drawn in by the light.
In that experiment, researchers collected moth larvae from bright urban settings and dark rural places in France and Switzerland, then raised the moths together in the same garden. In a “flight-to-light” test, 30 per cent fewer urban moths were captured in a light trap compared with rural moths, suggesting they had developed a weaker response to light.
Having smaller wings may limit how far and fast these moths disperse to find mates or food. But that trade-off might be a beneficial adaptation in urban ecosystems if it makes the moths less susceptible to the negative effects of responding strongly to light, says Van de Schoot.
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