Bay Nature magazineFall 2011

Wildlife

Naturalist’s Notebook: The Moth that Changes Color to Match Its Food

October 1, 2011

The Darwin’s emerald moth is a neat trick of evolution: The larvae change color depending on what they eat. And they seem to do it visually — put them in the dark and they fail to match their host plants.

About the Author

Naturalist and illustrator John Muir Laws is the author of the Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide. Learn more and find class schedules at johnmuirlaws.com.