Moth tattoos are the darker version of a butterfly tattoo. They often stand for searching for a light in the dark. They are also often associated with moonlight, searching for this light with little to no regard for their own safety. This makes it a vulnerable, spontaneous, but determined creature.

tumblr Duncan Whitfield. Southampton, UK
Creepy, super realistic moth done by Duncan Whitfield, in Southampton, UK.

Moth tattoos can be done in most styles, but are most popular in black and grey, dotwork, realism, and old school. They are also often done in neo traditional.

tumblr Cory Craft in Lakeland FL, Black Swan Tattoo
Traditional death moth and moon pairing done by Cory Craft in Lakeland FL, Black Swan Tattoo.

Death moth tattoos are also an extremely popular design. Deaths-Head Hawkmoth get their name from a species of moth that gets it’s name from the skull-like mark on its thorax. It has often been seen as a bad omen in history.In 1840, entomologist Moses Harris wrote that “It is regarded not as the creation of a benevolent being, but the device of evil spirits—spirits enemies to man—conceived and fabricated in the dark, and the very shining of its eyes is thought to represent the fiery element whence it is supposed to have proceeded. Flying into their apartments in the evening at times it extinguishes the light; foretelling war, pestilence, hunger, death to man and beast.” It is no wonder then that it is a popular tattoo design for lovers of the darker side of life.

tumblr Alex Bage
Death moth done on the back of the head by Alex Bage, done at Fat Panda tattoo in the UK.
tumblr Ela Berger
Neo traditional hand moth done by Ela Berger, a neo trad artist from Germany.
tumblr James Armstrong
Black and grey sternum piece by James Armstrong done at Holy Mountain tattoo in Scunthorpe UK.
tumblr Jay Van Gerven
A rare watercolor moth and coverup tattoo done by Jay Van Gerven working out of Titan Tattoos in Hobart Tasmania.
tumblr Justin Dion, Portland Oregon
Small colorful elbow piece by Justin Dion at Sovereign Tattoo in Portland Oregon.
tumblr Kamil Mokot
An amazing black and dotwork back tattoo done by Kamil Mokot at AKA Berlin tattoo in Germany.
tumblr Levi Hatch
Beautiful blackwork moth once again paired with a moon, done by Levi Hatch.
tumblr Lipa Andrzej
An amazing macabre neo traditional moth and moon pairing done by Lipa Andrzej. See her work and where she will be tattooing at https://www.instagram.com/_lipa_/
tumblr Uls Metzger
Amazingly detailed Dotwork tattoo done by Uls Metzger tattooing out of the Black Lodge, in Poland.
tumblr Virginia Elwood
Old school death moth tattoo by Virginia Elwood working out of Saved Tattoo in Brooklyn, New York.
tumblr Zach Bowden
One last traditional death moth tattoo done by Zach Bowden working out of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Do you have your own moth tattoo? Let’s see it in the comments!

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