Zoologist Arthur Anker's picture of a Venezuela poodle moth (© Arthur Anker via Flickr)

This bizarre pic of a 'poodle moth' is real

8/28/2012

A bizarre photo of an insect dubbed the "poodle moth" has captivated the Internet, with sentiments ranging from "it's so cute" to "WTF?" The image, originally taken in 2009 at Venezuela's Gran Sabana National Park, sat largely unnoticed on a photographer's Flickr page until someone made the image public and it went viral. Many swore it was fake until cryptozoologist Dr. Karl Shuker authenticated it. Now the strange-looking insect, which looks more like a creature from a kids' fantasy book or a Jim Henson skit, is the subject of animated debate by entomologists trying to determine if it's a new species. [Source]

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Is the poodle moth cute or creepy?