TULIP-TREE BEAUTY, PEPPERED MOTH, AND OAK BEAUTY
Tulip-Tree Beauty. This species has both light and dark forms. The individual at left is the melanic (dark) form.
Peppered Moth (also known as the Pepper-and-Salt Geometer). This species, like the Tulip-Tree Beauty above, has both light and dark forms.
Tulip-Tree Beauty. This is one of our largest geometer moths. All of the Tulip-Tree Beauties on this website were found in the Hocking Hills area (eastern Ohio), but I have also seen a few Tulip-Tree Beauty moths at my home lights as well.
Another Oak Beauty moth. Note the two white splotches on the upper wing margins.
This is the lighter form of Tulip-Tree Beauty. I find these moths from April through July.
Oak Beauty moth. I have found this species from April through early July.
Another Peppered Moth. I have seen this species in April and May, and also July and August.
Another Oak Beauty. The patterns are variable with this species, but there are generally white blotches on the upper wing margins.
Oak Beauty moth. This individual was photographed at Hocking Hills, but these moths also come to my home lights.
Another Peppered Moth. Famous studies in England showed that the dark form increased with industrial pollution, because the dark moths were better camouflaged against sooty surfaces. As air quality improved, the dark form decreased again. Peppered Moths also live in Europe and Asia, in addition to North America.
This Oak Beauty has smaller white blotches than the other individuals on this page. Photographed at Hocking Hills.