Entomologist Spotlight – Bug Hoaxes

April Fools’ Day is thought to have started during the 16th century in France, when they made the switch from using the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Those who still celebrated the New Year in March, after the switch, were called the “April Fools.” While this factoid is debated among historians, April Fools’ Day is still celebrated worldwide with pranks and hoaxes. So it seems almost perfect that this Entomology Spotlight explores several bug-centric hoaxes and myths!

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The Venezuelan Poodle Moth

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Photo taken by Dr. Anker

This moth “species” went viral in 2012, and then resurfaced again in 2024 as “the internet’s favorite moth.” While the original image is indeed a real moth photographed by Zoologist Dr. Arthur Anker, the exact species of the pictured individual remains unknown. As of today, there is no official moth species described or named “Venezuelan Poodle Moth,” but some have speculated that it may be a moth in the genus Artace. Due to the virality of this photograph, news articles and social media posts claimed that a “new species had been discovered,” despite the lack of scientific findings for such a claim. Many of these articles, posts, and videos looking to jump onto this trend also included images and photos not related at all to the original moth. These included pictures of other Artace species, domestic silk moths, and artistic renditions, all claiming to be the real Venezuelan Poodle Moth. Frustratingly enough, upon searching for “Venezuelan Poodle Moth,” Google’s first image result is of a needle felted moth sculpture, not even a real moth at all. Despite all this debunking since 2012, the Venezuelan Poodle Moth myth still persists throughout the internet today.

Google Search

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Lotus Mantids

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Recently, you may have seen videos on TikTok or Instagram depicting what looks to be an insect adorned by blossoming flowers. Some appear to be mantids, while others look like perhaps some type of leafhopper. While these look to be spectacular bugs you could find in exotic locations, don’t be so quick to go hunting for these floral insects! All of these videos have been created using AI technology. Some AI videos will clearly state in the description that it’s not real, adding #ai or #aiart, but others will try their best to convince you it’s real. Some video descriptions will even go as far as to give the fake species a name, like “Lotus Mantis,” and claim they saw the insect for themselves. A good way to determine if one of these videos is AI or real is to pay close attention to the legs of the bug, as AI does not have a very good understanding of insect anatomy and will often have extra or missing legs. If you’re looking for a real “Lotus Mantis,” then consider Hymenopus coronatus, the orchid mantis! Orchid mantids are known for their pink and white coloring, and their mimicry of orchid flowers as a camouflage tactic. This real bug species can be found in Southeast Asia, but is quite rare.

Image from AI generated videos

Hymenopus coronatus

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You Eat 8 Spiders a Year

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Although no one can be quite sure how it began, the myth that an average person eats 8 spiders a year in their sleep may be one of the internet’s oldest hoaxes. This statistic is completely fabricated and not based in science at all. In fact, biologists have stated that a sleeping person would actually scare off a spider, rather than attract one. If you really wanted to though, there are edible spiders for sale as novelty treats, and are regular delicacies in other countries.

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Elusive Blue Monarch

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Photoshopped image of Danaus plexippus

The existence of blue Monarch Butterflies is more of a misconception than a hoax, but we get enough questions about it that I felt the need to include it! While there is a butterfly species commonly known as the “blue monarch,” it’s actually not related to the classic orange and black Monarchs you know. Tirumala petiverana, the “blue monarch,” is a blue and black brush-footed butterfly that can only be found in parts of Africa. Those who claim to have seen a blue Monarch in the US most likely misidentified a different species. Because butterflies tend to flit past fairly quickly, and many tailed butterflies lose their tails during adulthood, it’s easy to see how a blueish butterfly can be mistaken for a blue Monarch. Species commonly misidentified are Limenitis arizonensis (Arizona Red-spotted Purple), Battus philenor (Pipevine swallowtail), and Papilio troilus (Spicebush swallowtail).

Tirumala petiverana

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Mothman

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With sightings beginning in 1966, Mothman has become a cult classic of American cryptids, having grown even more popular than Bigfoot. In Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where this folktale originates from, a museum and statue have been erected in his honor, which draws in tourists year-round hoping to get a glimpse of the legendary cryptid. He is often described as being humanoid in shape, abnormally tall, with moth-like or bat-like wings, and almost always with glowing red eyes. To many, he is known as just an adored mythical legend, but I’ve seen him myself, flying overhead as I drove from my grandparents’ home in Appalachia at night. So to me (and many others) Mothman is real.

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See BicBugs very own hoax bug!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWkF9u0EszQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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