History Main / WalletMoths

-->--'''K.O.''', ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes''

* In ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', K.O. tries to pull a quarter out of his pocket, but a few moths come out instead.
-->'''K.O.:''' NO! MY MOTH COLLECTION!

For the most part, this is an [[AnimationTropes Animation Trope]], possibly because actors didn't much like fragile flying insects in their pockets, though [[ForgottenTrope it isn't often used anymore]] even in cartoons. Little to no relation with MacabreMothMotif and MothMenace. Contrast BatScare, in which the startling appearance of flying creatures indicates a location is unexplored or abandoned. Compare BankruptcyBarrel.

For the most part, this is an [[AnimationTropes Animation Trope]], possibly because actors didn't much like fragile flying insects in their pockets, though [[ForgottenTrope it isn't often used anymore]] even in cartoons. Little to no relation with MacabreMothMotif. Contrast BatScare, in which the startling appearance of flying creatures indicates a location is unexplored or abandoned. Compare BankruptcyBarrel.

* ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse: This was pretty much guaranteed to happen to Scrooge [=McDuck=] whenever he opens his wallet or change purse. Meant to indicate that because he is a miser, he opens his wallet very seldom.

* In ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'', K.O. tries to pull a quarter out of his pocket, but a few moths come out and he exclaims that they were part of his moth collection.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'', it's seen to happen in "Duckworth's Revolt". Duckworth relates his duties of the day to Huey, Dewey and Louie, noting that he was due to dust off Scrooge's credit cards. Duckworth holds up Scrooge's wallet, and the viewer can see several moths fluttering out.

* In ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'', it's seen to happen in "Duckworth's Revolt". Duckworth relates his duties of the day to Huey, Dewey and Louie, noting that he was due to dust off Scrooge's credit cards. Duckworth holds up Scrooge's wallet, and the viewer can see several moths fluttering out.

* In the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mIQjxvKSqw Mellow Brick Road]]'' music video by Music/{{Pogo}}, the [[TheWizardOfOz Scarecrow]] indicates his lack of brains by pulling off his hat and having a moth fly out. Not quite this trope, but clearly drawing upon the same imagery to indicate "empty."

-->'''Gwen''': I tried to check my bank balance online, and instead it run moth-escape.gif.

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* In one episode of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', when Kermit checks the theatre's cashbox, he comments, "Three moths and a washer... More than we usually have."

* Happens with Esther's phone in Giant Days.

* ''Series/UnbreakableKimmySchmidt'' has Tituss at the ATM. His balance is $2, which he opts to withdraw. The fee is $3. He accepts, and instead of getting his money, a receipt comes out informing him his new balance is negative one dollar.

* The opening of ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' has the titular thief opening woefully poor Tack's wallet in his sleep, only for a few moths to fly out.

* In the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mIQjxvKSqw Mellow Brick Road]]'' music video by {{Pogo}}, the [[TheWizardOfOz Scarecrow]] indicates his lack of brains by pulling off his hat and having a moth fly out. Not quite this trope, but clearly drawing upon the same imagery to indicate "empty."

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'': Happens to Team Rocket regularly.

[[folder: Film ]]

* It occurs during the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment of ''Disney/{{Fantasia 2000}}'', to the man in the diner.
* In ''Film/TheMask'', the title character has a moth fly out of his pocket to show how poor he is.
* The opening of ''WesternAnimation/TheThiefAndTheCobbler'' has the titular thief opening woefully poor Tack's wallet in his sleep, only for a few moths to fly out.
* In the ''Film/TheThreeStooges'' short "From Nurse to Worse", Moe and Larry pry open Curly's money purse (that he keeps around his neck, hidden beneath layers of shirts), and moths fly out. Inside is a single moth-eaten dollar bill.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* Used as a plot point in the children's book ''[=McBroom=] Tells the Truth'' by Creator/SidFleischman: Josh [=McBroom=] buys a seemingly worthless farm for [[ExactWords everything in his wallet]], and when it turns out to be valuable land, the swindler who sold the land demands it back, saying that [=McBroom=] still owes him the moths that flew out when he handed over the money.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* In one episode of ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', when Kermit checks the theatre's cashbox, he comments, "Three moths and a washer... More than we usually have."

[[folder: Newspaper Comics ]]

* In ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'', it happened once when Calvin's dad was paying Rosalyn's baby-sitting bonus and there was nothing left.
* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in a ''{{Lio}}'' strip, where Lio's dad is shown with a package of "Wallet Moths" used to trick Lio into thinking he's broke.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* [[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=290 This]] ''VGCats'' comic.

[[folder: Web Original]]

* An episode of ''Woodworking For Mere Mortals'' starts with a skit made to look and sound like a silent film. A boy walks down a road and fails to find any money in his pocket. It being a silent film, we get a closeup of him pulling his pocket inside out to indicate this in lieu of any dialog. See it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odjK25-Q08w here]].
* UnbreakableKimmySchmidt has Tituss at the ATM. His balance is $2, which he opts to withdraw. The fee is $3. He accepts, and instead of getting his money, a receipt comes out informing him his new balance is negative one dollar.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/{{SpongeBob SquarePants}}'' (which is [[RuleOfFunny strange]], seeing as they are underwater and all...)

--> '''Mr. Burns:''' "Hmm... does anyone have change for a button?"

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTripletsOfBelleville'': Mme Souza, while trying to order a hamburger, opens her purse, only for a moth to fly out of it. When it lands on the smiling cashier's face, the cashier realizes that her customer has no money.

* In the ''SchoolhouseRock'' short "$7.50 Once A Week" a moth flies out of the boy's pocket when he looks for money, not knowing he has already spent his entire allowance.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

* Happens in an ''Ivy The Terrible'' comic strip in ''TheBeano'' (with Ivy's dad pulling at his pockets).

* This was pretty much guaranteed to happen to Scrooge McDuck in ''DisneyComics'' whenever he opened his wallet or change purse. Meant to indicate that because he was a miser, he opened his wallet very seldom.

* In one episode of ''TheMuppetShow'', when Kermit checks the theatre's cashbox, he comments, "Three moths and a washer... More than we usually have."