Why am I terrified of moths and swat them at every opportunity yet couldn't harm a butterfly?

Question

I have been almost phobic about moths since I was a small child.

Answer 1

Because butterflies have a more positive connotation in society, if you noticed, butterflies are portrayed in cartoons as bright and happy things, they are in kiddie stickers and everything. Moths have a more negative connotation, they come out at night and are attracted to the full moon (at least thats what I know abt them)...it almost has a "dark" air to it. So perhaps as a young child thats what you "learned" about it, even subconsciously. Sometimes it is not what it seems what youre scared of. For instance, I just realized I dont have a phobia of all insects, but specifically killing insects cos of the *blood* that results, not the insects themselves.

Just my observation, not an expert cheeers! :)

Answer 2

Am the same but also detest butterflies as i see them as moths in disguise lol... And you probably hate them as they dive bomb you and creep about in the night.. I hate all creppy crawlies ...

Answer 3

Oh wow...I am horribly afraid of moths as well.

I have nothing against butterflies though...I think it may be because they are beautiful and colorful while moths are brown and kind of ugly.

Also, butterflies don't go into your house and hang out by your lamps.

Answer 4

Might be something left over from your youth or even a previous life.  Moth are not as attractive as butterflies, but they are not ugly either. And there are some very big moths, in this world, the size of a bat.Try to wean yourself off, of this fear, by slowly looking at and holding moths.

Peace.

P. S. Thou shall not kill!

Answer 5

i am also terrified of moths, i think they make a b-line to head straight for my face which is so gross! and freaks me out! i love butterflies though! i dont know i just think moths are more worrying because they come into your house whereas butterflies stay outside.  

Answer 6

I'm the same.  With me it is to do with the way in which they fly.  Moths seem to fly in quite a different manner to butterflies and butterflies don't tend to fly at your face or zoom about around lamps.