What Does the Death Moth Symbolize? Plus, Tattoo Design Ideas

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Learn the spiritual significance of this unique moth

Co-authored by Elaine Heredia, BA Reviewed by Michelle Arbeau

Last Updated: January 23, 2025 Fact Checked

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Death Moth Spiritual Meaning

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Is it a positive or negative omen?

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Death Moth Tattoo Symbolism

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Death Moth Tattoo Ideas

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Death Moth in Pop Culture

At first glance, the Death's Head Hawk-moth looks like any ordinary brown and yellow moth – until you peer closer and see the shape of a human skull on its back. Your instinct (and that of many others before you) might be to call this a sign of bad luck and death. But the death moth is also a symbol of the cycle of life, transformation, and other soul-stirring meanings. Find out more in our guide to the meaning of the death moth in spirituality, tattooing, and pop culture, as well as death moth tattoo design ideas.

Death Head Moth Meaning

A Death's Head Hawk-moth is a dark brown and yellow moth with a human skull-shaped spot on its back. As a spiritual symbol or a tattoo, it can symbolize transformation, rebirth, and humans' power to change. It can also represent death, darkness, and the inevitable yet beautiful cycle of life.

Section 1 of 5:

Death Moth Spiritual Meanings

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The death moth primarily symbolizes spiritual transformation and growth because of the metamorphosis that changes them from caterpillars to beautiful winged insects. The fact that they always fly toward the light in the dark is also often interpreted as a symbol of change.^{[1]
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The Native American Zuni tribe associates moths and butterflies with fertility due to the fact that these creatures are pollinators.^{[2]
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Research source} And in Mexico, skulls are symbols of the life, death, and rebirth cycle, and are displayed to celebrate loved ones who have passed on.^{[3]
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Death & natural cycles Death moths can symbolize death – but not always negatively. While death can absolutely be associated with sadness and decay, it can also represent the natural, inevitable cycle of life ending and then taking on a new form. In China, for example, many people believe that moths represent the souls of loved ones who have passed on.^{[4]
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- A death moth can also symbolize the end of a phase or a stage rather than an individual passing on. In this context, it serves as a hopeful sign that a new beginning is just around the corner.^{[5]
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Section 2 of 5:

Is the death moth a positive or negative omen?

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In Europe (where death moths are more common), seeing a death moth was sometimes perceived as a sign that someone was about to experience bad luck or was going to die.^{[6]
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Research source} But it can also be an omen that positive change is about to occur or that deceased loved ones are spiritually close. Rather than look at it with dread and fear, receive the message it's sending you to embrace change and transform or transition into a better life.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 5:

What do death moth tattoos symbolize?

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For many tattoo aficionados, death moths symbolize change and growth. The concept of transformation is intrinsically tied to moths, so many people get a tattoo of one to show how they're evolving spiritually and personally.^{[8]
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Research source} They may also use it to signify how they've adapted to tough changes and remind them of their inner strength.
Some tattoo wearers opt for a death's moth tattoo to honor a specific person who passed away. They may pair the moth with the name of the loved one or another symbol associated with that person (i.e., their favorite flower or number).^{[9]
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The nocturnality of the death moth can represent the mystery of the unknown and the hidden supernatural world. A tattoo of a death moth can therefore symbolize a fascination for secrets and a desire to uncover deep, ancient knowledge.^{[10]
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Overcoming darkness The colors associated with death moth tattoos – black, dark brown, and sometimes dark yellow – can represent the wearer's determination to overcome the "darkness" in their lives, whether that's outward challenges or inner vices. It's a reminder that they're strong enough to strive for the light, just like the death moth.^{[11]
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- Because of its dark colors and symbolism, the death moth is a popular tattoo choice in goth culture.
- Some people also find the death moth beautiful and display it on their bodies as a piece of art rather than as a warning or a symbol of deeper meaning.

Section 4 of 5:

Death Moth Tattoo Design Ideas

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Depending on where your artistic sensibilities lie, you may want a death moth tattoo that's an exact replication of what it looks like in real life (down to its misshapen skull spot and fuzzy scales). On the other hand, if you want a tattoo that looks fully expressive of your personality, ask your tattoo artist to stylize it (i.e., make it more cartoonish, geometric, or gothic).
A real death moth is dark brown, black, and yellow. Try incorporating these colors or replacing them with totally different ones to make something bold and unique. Alternatively, stick to black and greyscale colors for a more minimalist but still edgy design.
Include other designs and symbols (like flowers, animals, hearts, arrows, or text) around the death moth tattoo to create a collage. Discuss with your tattoo artist how to arrange all the elements in a way that makes the death moth the focal point while still creating an interesting arrangement or backdrop.

Section 5 of 5:

Death Moth in Pop Culture

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In Silence of the Lambs, the death moth symbolizes transformation. Both the book and the 1991 film adaptation feature a character named Buffalo Bill who leaves the pupa of a moth (later identified as a Death's Head Hawk-moth) at a murder scene. The moth is not just his calling card – it also represents Buffalo Bill's desire to turn into a woman.^{[12]
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- The Death's Head Hawk-moth is also a prominent motif on the Silence of the Lambs film poster. If you look closely, you can see a photo of 7 women posing in the shape of a skull superimposed on top of the moth's skull-like spot.
- This was a deliberate artistic choice that emphasizes both the skull shape and the movie's unsettling quality (as well as, perhaps, hints at Buffalo Bill's feminine side).^{[13]
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He does so by feeding the moths to other animals and then eating those animals himself. Count Dracula – the titular vampire and Renfield's master – sends him the moths as a reward for his help and obedience.^{[14]
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