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Iridescent Flint Beetle

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Iridescent Flint Beetle In-game icon.
Appears in PikminPikmin 2Pikmin 3
Scientific name Pilli envelopens
Family Flint beetle
Areas The Impact Site, The Forest of Hope, The Forest Navel, Awakening Wood
Caves Citadel of Spiders, Cavern of Chaos, Hole of Heroes, Dream Den
Challenge Mode stages The Impact Site, The Distant Spring, Novice Training
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages Tropical Forest, Thirsty Desert
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages None
Side Story days None
2-Player Battle stages None
Bingo Battle stages None
Attacks N/A

The Iridescent Flint Beetle (コガネモチ?, lit.: "Golden Rice Cake") is an enemy in all three Pikmin games. Attack one by throwing a Pikmin on top of it, at which it glows red while overturning and drops a useful object; Pikmin attacking from on the ground cannot harm it. This creature disappears after a certain amount of time has passed or it has been overturned enough times.

Stats

Game Weight Max.
carriers
Seeds Value Health Regen.
Pikmin N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A No
Pikmin 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A 1000 0.3 HP/s
Pikmin 3 (?) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A[note 1] No
  1. ^ The game files specify that this enemy has 1HP.

Pikmin

File:NPC Flint Beetle.jpg
Artwork from New Play Control! Pikmin depicting the Flint Beetle's rear.

In Pikmin, these bugs look rather larger than in the second game and have a different coloration. They are more common, and are somewhat helpful. They are mostly found in foliage or in corners. When hit, they first drop a 1-pellet, then, when hit again, they drop two doses of nectar. Upon the next direct hit more doses of nectar are released, and then a 5-pellet. This cycle repeats once more, ending after the second 5 -and swift movement. It also poses an indirect threat to Pikmin, as it will often run through Olimar's army. This results in the Pikmin automatically attacking and chasing it unless called back, which can lead them into danger.

Pikmin 2

The creature on the Piklopedia.

In Pikmin 2, its appearance was slightly changed. Pikmin no longer attack Iridescent Flint Beetles automatically as they do in the original game. In all Pikmin 2 Challenge Mode levels they're in, these creatures drop treasures. They are found in similar locations, but only drop three things: a 1-pellet (a dose of nectar if it's underground), 2 doses of nectar, and then a dose of ultra-spicy spray (3 doses of nectar if the ultra-spicy spray hasn't been discovered yet). Using Purple Pikmin, it is easier to fight them due to the shockwaves that the heavy Purple Pikmin produce when thrown.

As a side note, it is possible to defeat these creatures while petrified, but they drop neither nectar nor spray and leave no corpse.

On the main menu, if the player presses GCN Y.png / Nunchuk Z.png, an Iridescent Flint Beetle may appear that can be controlled with GCN C.png / Wiimote Dpad.png. The beetle will be swarmed if it gets close to the Pikmin. This is just one of the main menu easter eggs.

Pikmin 3

File:IridescentFlintBeetle Pikmin3.png
The Iridescent Flint Beetle as it appears in Pikmin 3.

In Pikmin 3, this creature's appearance is greatly altered. Its eyes are still on stalks, but it sports two horizontally-facing antennae that look almost like a mustache, its shiny exoskeleton seems to have layers and appears less vibrant, and its underside appears to have four glowing, blue spots. The only way to harm one of these creatures, as with previous games, is by throwing Pikmin on its back, upon which it drops nectar or pellets.

Notes

Olimar's voyage log

This creature's hypnotic reflective body is quite hard, giving it a good defense against Pikmin attacks. Why, then, do the Pikmin chase it in such a frenzy? I wonder if it will undergo any change if I hit it directly with Pikmin...

Reel notes

This forager stores undigested pellets in its stomach for winter.

Olimar's notes

Flint beetles are nocturnal, choosing to hide in the grass by day and stay active at night. These creatures keep undigested food pellets in their stomachs to sustain them through winter, but given the right stimulus they will spit them out. Recent research has revealed that these pellets are enveloped in a membrane that seals and preserves them in a sterile, airtight environment. If kept at room temperature, it seems that this pellet membrane will keep its contents fresh for up to six months. The membrane may be made from the same substance that gives the exoskeleton of the flint beetle its beautiful sheen.

Louie's notes

An essential flavor-accentuating ingredient in gumbo and jambalaya. Also delicious in soups, broths, and marinades.

Nintendo Player's Guide

Squirrely Flint Beetles hold nectar. They won't harm your Pikmin, but they won't stand and let you defeat them, either. If you're on the trail of an Iridescent Flint Beetle, anticipate when it will stop moving, aim, then hit it with a quick accurate toss.

Pikmin 3 Prima Guide

The Iridescent Flint Beetle is a harmless burrowing creature. Attacking the creature generally yields a nice supply of pellets and Nectar. The Iridescent Flint Beetle is a fast-moving creature. When the creature emerges, allow it to scurry around the area. When the creature stops moving, you have a brief window to attack. Toss a single Pikmin directly onto the Iridescent Flint Beetle to yield a nice reward. Repeat the process as many times as possible before the Iridescent Flint Beetle burrows back underground.

Behavior

The Flint Beetle is harmless and will remain underground until a leader or Pikmin approaches its resting spot. Once active, the Flint Beetle will scurry about in no particular direction; only away from the player after being hit. It moves quickly and can be difficult to hit at times, but repeatedly flipping it over for up to three times will provide increasingly valuable rewards. After being hit three times, or being active for a certain amount of time, the creature will scurry back underground. Though it does not die, it will not return for the rest of the day/challenge.

Strategy

The following article or section contains guides.
The strategies shown are just suggestions.

While the Flint Beetle cannot be killed, it can have certain items knocked out of it. The creature can only be attacked with Pikmin, as leaders have no way of damaging this creature aside from ultra-bitter spray. Pikmin must be thrown at the Beetle's shell to flip it, knocking out useful items. The Iridescent Glint Beetle and the Doodlebug are damaged in the same way.

Purple Pikmin in Pikmin 2 can home in, making them easier to hit with. With proper timing, or by repeatedly throwing Pikmin, one can hit the beetle before it begins running again, resulting in the creature staying in the same place.

In the Super Smash Bros. series

The Iridescent Flint Beetle appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U as a trophy.

Brawl trophy

File:FlintBeetleTrophy.jpg Description:

A member of the flint beetle family featuring an iridescent, shining shell that is also prized for its strength. These beetles are packed with nectar and pellets, which they drop when attacked. These can be collected, although the reason for doing so is unknown. Apparently, Pikmin are quite attracted to these beetles—the sight of one will send them running after it.

GameCube icon.png Pikmin
GameCube icon.png Pikmin 2
How to obtain: Random appearance. Type: Fighter Related

Smash 4 trophy

The trophy for an Iridescent Flint Beetle in the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. US version icon.png US description:

These guys appear in the Pikmin series, dropping rare items and fleeing nearby Pikmin. Purple Pikmin can flip them over, making the whole "getting rare items" process a lot easier. According to Louie, cooking one of these guys yields a meal with a distinct and delicious flavor.
Appears in:

GameCube icon.png Pikmin (12/2001)
GameCube icon.png Pikmin 2 (08/2004)
European version icon.png EU description:

These rare bugs from the Pikmin series have a unique and delicious flavour. (That's what Louie says, anyway.) They also hold on to some valuable items, which might explain why they run away as soon as you find them. To make things easier, throw a Purple Pikmin at one to flip it onto its back, then send the rest of your squad to attack.
Related Games

GameCube icon.png Pikmin (06/2002)
GameCube icon.png Pikmin 2 (10/2004)
How to obtain: Random appearance. Type: Series Related Trophy Box: 61. Distant Planet & Indigenous Creatures

Technical information

Pikmin technical information (?)
Internal name kogane
HP N/A
Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name kogane
Global properties (List)
ID Japanese comment Property Value
s000 friction(not used) Friction 0.5
s001 wallReflection Unknown (wall bounce speed multiplier?) 0.5
s002 faceDirAdjust Unknown 0.25
s003 accel Acceleration 0.15
s004 bounceFactor Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?) 0.3
fp00 ライフ HP 1000
fp01 マップとの当り Unknown (related to slopes) 15
fp02 ダメージスケールXZ Horizontal damage scale 0
fp03 ダメージスケールY Vertical damage scale 0
fp04 ダメージフレーム Damage scale duration 0
fp05 質量 Unknown (weight?) 0.01
fp06 速度 Move speed 200
fp08 回転速度率 Rotation acceleration 0.4
fp09 テリトリー Territory radius 1
fp10 ホーム範囲 "Home" radius 1
fp11 プライベート距離 "Private" radius 0
fp12 視界距離 Sight radius 50
fp13 視界角度 FOV 180
fp14 探索距離 Unknown (exploration radius?) 0
fp15 探索角度 Unknown (exploration angle?) 0
fp16 振り払い率 Successful shake rate 0
fp17 振り払い力 Shake knockback 0
fp18 振り払いダメージ Shake damage 0
fp19 振り払い範囲 Shake range 0
fp20 攻撃可能範囲 Unknown (shock attack max range?) 0
fp21 攻撃可能角度 Unknown (shock attack max angle?) 0
fp22 攻撃ヒット範囲 Unknown (attack hit range?) 0
fp23 攻撃ヒット角度 Unknown (attack hit angle?) 0
fp24 攻撃力 Attack damage 0
fp25 視界高 Unknown (height visibility?) 50
fp26 探索高 Unknown (exploration height?) 0
fp27 ライフの高さ HP wheel height 50
fp28 回転最大速度 Rotation speed 360
fp29 警戒時間 Unknown (warning time?) 0
fp30 警戒ライフ Unknown 0
fp31 ライフ回復率 Regeneration rate 0.00001
fp32 LOD半径 Off-camera radius 50
fp33 マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定 Collision processing radius 30
fp34 ピクミンとのあたり Pikmin damage radius 15
fp35 石化時間 Petrification duration 1
fp36 ヒップドロップダメージ Purple Pikmin drop damage 50
fp37 地震気絶確立 Purple Pikmin stun chance 0.3 (30%)
fp38 地震気絶時間 Purple Pikmin stun time 5
ip01 振り払い打撃A Shake mode 1 – hit count 0
ip02 振り払い張付1 Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement 0
ip03 振り払い打撃B Shake mode 2 – hit count 0
ip04 振り払い張付2 Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement 0
ip05 振り払い打撃C Shake mode 3 – hit count 0
ip06 振り払い張付3 Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement 0
ip07 振り払い打撃D Shake mode 4 – hit count 0
Specific properties
ID Japanese comment Property Value
fp01 出現時間(Min) Min time spent out of the ground 20
fp02 出現時間(Max) Max time spent out of the ground 30
fp10 移動時間(Min) Min time spent walking 0.3
fp11 移動時間(Max) Max time spent walking 0.7
fp20 停止時間(Min) Min time spent stopped 0.5
fp21 停止時間(Max) Max time spent stopped 2
fp30 向き変え角度 Max angle change between walks 90
fp40 スケール Scale 0.8
Pikmin 3 technical information (?)
Internal name kogane
HP 1
Rock Pikmin throw hits to kill 0
White Pikmin ingestions to kill 0
Bomb rock explosions to kill 0
Bomb rock ingestions to kill 0
Number of direct hits on top to kill 0
Damage to leaders 0
Territory radius 100
Mission Mode value 0

Other information

Naming

The word "iridescent" in the Iridescent Flint Beetle's name means "shiny", referring to its shiny carapace. Flint is a type of rock, and this beetle was named after it. Its Japanese name is コガネモチ?. コガネ? means "golden", likely referring to how it sparkles, and モチ? is a Japanese rice cake. A marumochi is a round variant of the rice cake, which looks similar to the shape of the Iridescent Flint Beetle in the first two games. So, this creature's Japanese name is "Golden Rice Cake".

In its scientific name, Pilli envelopens, Pilli is close to the Latin word pili, which means "pikes". This word was possibly chosen because primitive pikes were made using flint stones. Envelopens is based on the English word "envelop", which means "to cover", possibly chosen due to the creature being mostly covered in a flint-hard shell. Its internal name in the all games in kogane, the first word of its Japanese name.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Flag of Japan Japanese コガネモチ?
Kogane Mochi
Golden Rice Cake
Flag of France French Scarabée Iridescent Iridescent Beetle
Flag of Italy Italian Iridococco Iris Coccus
Flag of Portugal Portuguese (NoE) Besouro Iridescente Iridescent Beetle Name taken from the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy.
Flag of Mexico Spanish (NoA) Escarabajo de sílex iridescente Iridescent flint beetle

Gallery

Trivia

  • There are two enemies in the Pikmin games similar to the Iridescent Flint Beetle. All are in different families while their genera are the same. In real life, however, it is impossible for members of different families to share a genus.
  • The European version of the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy advises players to flip the creature over with a Purple Pikmin and then having them attack it. This strategy doesn't make much sense, and was likely mistaken for the Anode Beetle instead, which lacks a trophy.

See also