Fear of moths (mottephobia)

Mottephobia is a fear of moths. People often describe dread about a moth fluttering towards their face, landing on them or getting caught in their hair. Summer evenings with the windows open or a light on outdoors can feel like a risk.

About this phobia

The name is usually linked to the German word Motte, meaning moth. It is not a formal diagnosis but is one of the more often mentioned rare fears. It is related to entomophobia, a fear of insects, and lepidopterophobia, a fear of butterflies and moths.

What it feels like

• Ducking or flinching when something flutters nearby
• Keeping windows shut and lights off on warm evenings
• Feeling a crawling sensation on the skin after seeing one

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Why do moths scare people more than butterflies?

Moths tend to fly at night, move in sudden jerky patterns and head towards lights, which often means towards faces. That unpredictability is what many people with this fear say bothers them most.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices