No, this is not a photo of a giant Japanese emperor moth
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on May 27, 2019 at 08:05
- Updated on May 27, 2019 at 08:06
- 3 min read
- By Rachel YAN,
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The photo was shared in this Facebook post on April 25, 2019 by a Facebook page with more than than 113,200 followers.
It has been shared more than 3,300 times.
Below is a screenshot of the misleading Facebook post:
The caption states: “Japanese Giant Emperor Moth.”
The photo was shared in other posts on Facebook with the same claim here and here.
The same photo was also shared with an identical claim in multiple posts on Twitter, including here and here.
The claim is false; the photo shows a sculpture created by US-based artist Yumi Okita.
A reverse image search on Google found the same photo included on this page for Okita’s creations on e-commerce website Etsy.
The photo caption states: “Large Fiber Sculpture Moth- Hemileuca elganterina”. It was published alongside three other photos of the same sculpture taken from different angles.
Below is a screenshot of the web page on Etsy:
The moth, according to the Etsy web page, is a handmade artwork.
The product description states: “This moth is about 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide. The wings are made from fabric which is hand painted and embroidered with layer of thread creating texture and depth of color . The body is made of faux fur. You may display on the wall (metal hook attached on the underside) or display free standing. It is a one of a kind unique sculpture.”
Below is a comparison between the screenshot of the photo in the misleading posts (L) and the image published on Etsy (R):
This page on Okita’s Etsy profile shows her other moth sculpture creations.
Below is a screenshot of the page:
Responding to a message on Etsy on May 17, 2019, Okita told AFP the photo in the misleading social media posts shows one of her fiber art sculptures, which she based on a Polythysana moth.
She said: “Yes, this is one of my sculptures. It is made with fabric and is hand embroidered. It is a Polythysana moth. I am flattered that people are talking about my work.
“In my work, I try to capture the realism of the insect and manipulated just enough so the viewer will feel curious, confuse and yet fascinated. l guess l got those reactions!”
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