>>14912646I like this simplified design for the most part. especially making sure these critters are more pony than moth and don't stray too much further from the baseline than the Changelings or Bat Ponies do.
However, think that the fluffy chest tuft should be much more accentuated, like it is in the design you linked and the majority of the others. I understand the point about clutter, but I think it's a necessary accent.
By accentuating the forward part of the body it gives the impression of the rear part of the torso being thinner, which captures the an insect-like proportional sense in the silhouette. Furthermore, the texture quality of the fluffyness also conveys the gentle character we're trying to establish for this species. The sleek, smooth look is fine for normal ponies and bat ponies and whatnot because they are meant to be graceful or athletic or even predatory, but that's not what we're going for here.
Simplicity is always important to avoid over-design, but if simplicity interferes with visual characterization it has to give way.
I also agree with the people who suggestion proportionally bigger wings and possibly fully replacing the ears with fuzzy antennae. He chest tuft plus fuzzy antennae might be overload however, so it'd be something to tread carefully with.
Personally, I'm a super big fan of the compound-eye iris from the OP pic. I think that's a super cool detail and makes something normally creepy quite cute. It also fits with the tradition of abnormal irises in alternate pony species going all the way back to Gen 1. I can accept the possibility that it's an excessive detail, but I really think it's worth whatever clutter it might cause the design.
