The Origins of 7 Moth Pokemon & the Real Moths Behind Them

Most moth Pokemon start from a real moth and add a myth. Volcarona may be based on a garden tiger moth and on solar deities, and Frosmoth pairs a snow swallowtail moth with Morana, a Slavic goddess of winter and death. Dustox's Poison type may come from moths that keep toxic chemicals from the plants they ate as larvae.

See all 7 moth Pokemon in one list.

Here are the origins of the 7 moth Pokemon:

All 7 Moth Pokemon

#049

Venomoth

Venomoth is based on swallowtail moths, many of which are toxic. Its face and insect diet suggest it may also draw on lacewings, which, like many moths, are attracted to lights at night, and it may be a play on the moth lacewing in particular. Its Shiny coloration is similar to a blue morpho butterfly.

The powdery scales on its wings are hard to remove from skin, and they contain poison that leaks out on contact. We have been to parties like that. Its hidden ability, Wonder Skin, lowers the accuracy of non-damaging moves aimed at it to exactly 50%, which makes sleep and poison tricks a coin toss. A hidden ability is a rarer alternative to a Pokemon's usual ones, and an ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle.

#267

Beautifly

Beautifly is the one butterfly on this list, and it earns its place through the way it feeds. It is based on a swallowtail butterfly, particularly the common yellow swallowtail, given the shape and colors of its wings, and the orange-yellow and black of those wings also bring to mind the monarch butterfly. Its habit of piercing prey with its proboscis, though, is similar to a vampire moth or a mosquito.

It is colorful and incredibly beautiful but also greedy: to keep its favorite food all to itself, it will chase away Combee as they try to gather nectar. (We have never felt so understood by an insect.)

#269

Dustox

Dustox is based on the Japanese luna moth or Japanese moon moth, due to its green wings, its nocturnal habits and its ability to learn Moonlight. Its Poison type may come from butterflies and moths that keep toxic chemicals in their bodies from the plants they ate as larvae, and its Shiny colors resemble the Japanese silk moth.

It tends to be drawn to bonfires on dark nights, and it is difficult to chase away from settlements because of the way it scatters highly toxic scales. We have been that guest. Its Shield Dust ability protects it from the extra effects of incoming moves, such as the chance to burn or poison that some attacks carry.

#414

Mothim

Mothim, the Moth Pokemon, is based on a fully mature male bag moth, and it is always male. Its female counterpart is based on female bag moths, which never fully mature, living in cocoons and remaining wingless their whole lives. Its honey-thieving behavior may come from the lesser death's head hawkmoth, commonly known as the "bee robber". The legend in the mix is the Slavic cikavac, a pouch-wielding bird familiar with a penchant for stealing milk and honey.

It scatters steel-colored scales as it flaps its wings, and despite feeding primarily on the nectar of flowers, Mothim is not often seen around flower gardens. (We buy salad and avoid the gym.)

#636

Larvesta

Larvesta, the Torch Pokemon, is based on a moth larva. It bears some resemblance to the Valais Blacknose sheep, and its design may be a visual pun on "woolly worm", another name for a tiger moth larva. Its five horns could reference a halo or sun rays, and the red growths around its body reference the Tower of the Sun, a famed Japanese monument. Its lore of being born from the sun may allude to Phaethon, son of the Greek sun god, who fell from his father's solar chariot.

Larvesta's body is warm all over, and it spouts fire from the tips of its horns to intimidate predators and scare prey. We would still try to pet it. Its Flame Body ability gives it a 30% chance to burn any Pokemon that touches it with an attack.

#637

Volcarona

Volcarona, the Sun Pokemon, may be based on the garden tiger moth, the insect most commonly associated with the Japanese proverb about the summer insect that flies into the fire, and on various solar deities. Its six flame-colored wings may also draw on seraphim. That may tie it to the Clymene moth, a cross-bearing tiger moth sometimes dubbed the crucifix moth, whose species name comes from the Greek nymph Clymene, lover of Helios. It and Larvesta may also draw from legends of the phoenix born from a worm, as told in medieval Christian texts.

It emerges from a cocoon formed of raging flames, and ancient murals depict Volcarona as a deity of fire.

#873

Frosmoth

Frosmoth, the Frost Moth Pokemon, is based on a giant silk moth, going by its body shape and feathered antennae, and on the Ourapteryx genus, going by its color and tailed wings. Its Ice type is apparently inspired by O. nivea, whose Japanese name means "snow swallowtail moth". Its myth is Morana, a Slavic goddess of winter and death, along with Slavic superstitions of white moths as omens of death.

It shows no mercy to any who desecrate fields and mountains, and it flies around on its icy wings, causing a blizzard to chase offenders away. We would like one posted at every picnic spot with a litter problem. Its hidden ability, Ice Scales, halves the damage it takes from special moves.

Volcarona comes from the moth behind the Japanese proverb about the summer insect that flies into the fire, and Dustox is drawn to bonfires on dark nights. Venomoth's lacewing side is attracted to lights at night too. Frosmoth's Ice and Bug types are both weak to Fire, so Fire moves deal it four times the usual damage, and that quadruple weakness may refer to the phrase "like moths to a flame".

Moth Pokemon FAQ

How many moth Pokemon are there?

There are 7 moth Pokemon: Venomoth, Beautifly, Dustox, Mothim, Larvesta, Volcarona and Frosmoth. Four of them have moth in their category.

What is the strongest moth Pokemon?

Volcarona, with a base stat total of 550, ahead of Frosmoth at 475.

Is Volcarona a moth?

Yes. Volcarona may be based on the garden tiger moth, though its category calls it the Sun Pokemon, and its design also draws on solar deities.

Why is Frosmoth weak to Fire?

Ice and Bug both take double damage from Fire, so Frosmoth takes four times the damage. The quadruple weakness may refer to the phrase "like moths to a flame".