The peppered moth belongs to which genus?

The peppered moth belongs to the genus Biston.

Its scientific name is Biston betularia, and it is a member of Geometridae, the large family commonly known as the geometer moths. The species occurs across much of Europe and Asia and has also been introduced to other regions.

The peppered moth became a classic example in discussions of industrial melanism. Before widespread industrial pollution, the pale, speckled form was common in many areas. Darker forms became more frequent in polluted landscapes because soot-darkened surfaces made them less visible to predators such as birds.

The story is often simplified into a claim that the moth deliberately changed color. In reality, inherited genetic variation produced different color forms, while natural selection altered their frequencies in changing environments. Cleaner air later favored the pale form again in many populations, although local patterns vary.