History Main / WalletMoths

* [[http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=290 This]] ''Webcomic/VGCats'' comic.
* [[http://the-qlc.com/loserz/go/321 This strip]] of ''Webcomic/{{Loserz}}''.
* [[http://www.jagodibuja.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/103english.jpg here]] in ''Webcomic/LivingWithHipstergirlAndGamergirl''
* I n [[http://www.dorktower.com/2004/11/15/comics-archive-604/ this]] ''Webcomic/DorkTower'' strip, moths somehow fly out of a PC monitor.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5786099/31/Cold-blood Cold Blood]]'' Hermione suggests that Fred, George and Neville spend the night at the Leaky Cauldron.

For the most part, this is an [[AnimationTropes Animation Trope]], possibly because actors don'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 other common poverty tropes such as the BindleStick, BankruptcyBarrel, and ShoppingCartOfHomelessness.

* Wiki/{{Uncyclopedia}} has [[http://en.uncyclopedia.co/wiki/Wallet_moth a page advertising wallet moths]].

* Occurs in the WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse short ''The Nifty Nineties'' when Mickey takes out money for tickets to see a vaudeville show.

* Shown in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "The Magic Earrings" when Gargamel tries to see how much money he has for a gift he wants to buy from a traveling salesman and finds out that he only has one penny.

* When ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' does this in one episode, you can hear the moth say in a tiny voice: "I'm free! Free!"

For the most part, this is an [[AnimationTropes Animation Trope]], possibly because actors don'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.

* Justified in the anime adaptation of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo''. After Giorno returns a purse stolen by a pickpocket, its owner opens it and a pair of moths fly out. The moths then return to Giorno, who picks them up and turns them back into the paper money that they were before he used his [[FightingSpirit Stand]] Gold Experience to bring them to life.

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

%%* ''Franchise/ArchieComics'': Used to happen all the time.%%ZCE -- how? When?

* ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'': Parodied in "I Am Dendy"; K.O. tries to pull a quarter out of his pocket, but a few moths come out instead, and he cries out "[[BigNo NO!]] MY MOTH COLLECTION!"

* ''Disney/Fantasia2000'': This occurs to the man in the diner during the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment.

* Happens in an ''Ivy The Terrible'' comic strip in ''ComicBook/TheBeano'' (with Ivy's dad pulling at his pockets).
** ''The Beano'' used it pretty much any time any character took out a wallet or otherwise searched for money. Unless their [[{{Fiction 500}} gimmick]] was being incredibly rich, of course; sometimes in this case moths would fly out wearing tiny top hats or carrying diamond rings.
** In one strip, a very dumb character has his skull X-Rayed. They see a moth instead of a brain.

* ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse: This is 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 one story, after the witch Magica [=DeSpell=] steals his purse and looks through it, a moth flutters out and thanks her for letting it free.

* Used to happen all the time in ''Franchise/ArchieComics.''
* Happens with Esther's phone in ''ComicBook/GiantDays''.
* [[Comicbook/TheUnbelievableGwenpool Gwenpool]] referenced the trope when telling MODOK why she absolute needs the next mercenary job.

* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in a ''ComicStrip/{{Lio}}'' strip, where Lio's dad is shown with a package of "Wallet Moths" used to trick Lio into thinking he's broke.

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

* It occurs during the "Rhapsody in Blue" segment of ''Disney/{{Fantasia 2000}}'', to the man in the diner.