The Parable of the Peppered Moth
In his book Awaken Your Genius, former rocket scientist Ozan Varol tells a fascinating story of Britain’s peppered moth. At one point in their history…
…98 percent of the moths were light-colored. Only 2 percent were dark. But over the next five decades the ratio completely flipped. By 1895, 98 percent of moths were dark and the rest were light.
The transformation can be traced to a cataclysmic event whose ripple effects transformed not only the moths but also life as we know it.
The Industrial Revolution.
Before the Industrial Revolution, the light-colored moths enjoyed a significant advantage over the darker ones. The light-colored lichen that grew abundantly on tree bark camouflaged the light-colored moths from predatory birds, making them more difficult to detect.
When the Industrial Revolution arrived, coal-burning factories began to spew immense amounts of sulfur dioxide and soot into the air. The sulfur dioxide killed the light-bodied lichens growing on tree bark, and the soot painted the bark darker.
With these changes, the light-colored moths stuck out against the dark background and became easy lunch for hungry birds. In contrast, the darker moth population, which now blended in with the bark, skyrocketed.
The old advantage became a new liability, and the old liability became a new advantage. The light-colored moths withered. The darker ones blossomed.
What in the name of United Kingdom flying insects does this story have to do with anything?
Quite a lot, actually.
I’ve lost count of the times post-pandemic when I’ve relied on the light-colored lichen that I was accustomed to, only to discover that the soot has made the bark darker.
I’ve realized that I’m looking to the familiar peppered moths that I know and understand, only to realize that a different demographic has skyrocketed.
In leadership, there will always be changes in lichen and changes in moths. The trick is to see that it’s happening, acknowledge that it’s happening, and adjust our strategy accordingly.
