Is air pollution responsible for melanism in Lepidoptera and for scarcity of all orders of insects in New Jersey

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1972 · J. Res. Lepid.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6438377

Muller, J

An attempt has been made at explaining why light normal forms of Lepidoptera are found in southern New Jersey, yet, in the northern part of the state more melanic forms appear in greater numbers. The author believes that air pollution is responsible for the melanism and the scarcity of all orders of insects. Smog, which filters out some components of sunlight, is believed to be the pollutant which causes the melanism. Insecticides and smog are believed to be responsible for the scarcity of insects.

• OSTI ID: 6438377
• Journal Information: J. Res. Lepid.; (United States), Vol. 10:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
INSECTICIDES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
MOTHS
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
NEW JERSEY
AIR POLLUTION
SMOG
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
MELANIN
MUTATIONS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
FEDERAL REGION II
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
LEPIDOPTERA
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
PIGMENTS
POLLUTION
USA
VARIATIONS
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)