Hyogo: cockroaches, mosquitoes, caterpillars… Pesticide researcher recreates his ‘enemies’ in origami

AKO, Hyogo – An employee of the major pesticide company Earth Corp. has surprised his colleagues with a faithful reproduction on origami paper of their ‘enemies’: cockroaches, mosquitoes, caterpillars and other avoided arthropods.

More than 100 species of pests, including about 1 million cockroaches and 100,000 flies and mosquitoes, are kept for the development of pesticides and other products at the plant in Ako, Hyogo Prefecture, where the company’s research and development headquarters are located.

Kosuke Hiraoka, 46, a researcher at the headquarters, has observed the pests and reproduced their antennae, limbs and stomachs. He is dexterous with his hands and has loved origami since childhood. After joining the company in 2002, he began creating such works, starting with cockroaches before adding others.

So far he has created twenty types of origami, including fleas, mosquitoes and aphids. Bed bugs, which have become a hot topic, were recently added to his portfolio. He said his most challenging job was being a jack of all trades; he had a hard time deciding how long to make the legs.