Death's Head Moth- Original Kinusaiga

Materials: Fabric
Width: 8 inches
Height: 8 inches
Depth: 2 inches

Description

Isn't it funny how we so easily develop superstitions around that which reminds us of ourselves? This hand made fabric piece is a tribute to the Death's Head Moth, featured and feared in human made stories for ages. All because of a mark on the thorax that resembles a human skull.

Entomologist Edward Newman wrote: "...the effect is to produce the most superstitious feelings among the uneducated, by whom it is always regarded with feelings of awe and terror."

Hopefully those feelings are turning more into admiration and appreciation in the modern age! Here's some fun facts about these beautiful creatures:

- There are 3 species, all with names related to Death in Greek myth.

- When bothered, they can emit a high pitched squeak - much like the sound a mouse makes. (This did not help with the superstition)

- They raid beehives to eat nectar and honey, and avoid detection by mimicking the scent of bees.

- The largest of the species has a wingspan of 5 inches and is a strong flier.

This type of art is known as Kinusaiga, a Japanesse art form utilizing pieces of fabric to form an image. The scraps in this piece were all collected from second hand sources, and the design was hand drawn (no AI involved!)