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The term 'melanism' means the occurrence of variant(s) that is/are mostly or completely dark in pigmentation either as intraspecific polymorphisms or as fixed differences between closely related species. Melanism can… Click to show full abstract
The term 'melanism' means the occurrence of variant(s) that is/are mostly or completely dark in pigmentation either as intraspecific polymorphisms or as fixed differences between closely related species. Melanism can refer to variation involving discrete melanic and non-melanic phenotypes (melanic and typical morphs) or to cases of continuously varying pigmentation (True 2003). Melanism of moths inhabiting areas with industrial pollution is a very well-known example involving melanic polymorphisms in insects. However, melanism is also known in other insect orders, e.g. Coleoptera and Diptera (Majerus 1998, True 2003).
Journal Title: Zootaxa
Year Published: 2020
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