Moths

This lightweight Niagara simulation uses a texture atlas for the moths and randomly selects from it when the system is spawned, creating multiple moth variations. A custom mesh-swapping method then creates the illusion of each moth flapping its wings. The moths follow the center point of the actor they are placed on, in this case a lantern, so their movement stays tied to the object as it moves through the environment.

The same setup was easy to adapt into a buzzing flies particle simulation for deer carcasses and Bigfoot’s open wounds. The preview below shows the moths following a lantern and the flies buzzing over a deer.