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Swooping Snitchbug

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Swooping Snitchbug
File:Swooping Snitchbug(PikminNPC).jpg
Appears in PikminPikmin 2Pikmin 3
Scientific name Scarpanica kesperens
Family Scarpanid
Areas The Forest of Hope, The Distant Spring, Perplexing Pool, Wistful Wild, Distant Tundra, Formidable Oak
Caves Subterranean Complex, Frontier Cavern, Snagret Hole, Citadel of Spiders, Cavern of Chaos, Hole of Heroes
Challenge Mode stages Abduction Den
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages None
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages None
Side Story days None
2-Player Battle stages None
Bingo Battle stages None
Attacks Replants and deflowers Pikmin

The Swooping Snitchbug is a creature found in all three Pikmin games. They are legless, round, flying insects that have evolved wing-like antennae as a means of locomotion. They swoop down, as their name suggests, and grab their prey with their claws. After carrying them for a few seconds, they violently throw them towards the ground. This action would harm most prey, whereas Pikmin are simply replanted and reverted to their original leaf-receptacle state. They are also able to pick up the Captains in Pikmin 3 much the way Bumbling Snitchbugs do in Pikmin 2.

These creatures will plummet to the ground if weighed down by a sufficient number of Pikmin, or with a single Purple Pikmin in Pikmin 2, or a single Rock Pikmin in Pikmin 3, rendering it susceptible to further attack. Ultra-bitter sprays may also be used to freeze it in mid-air, causing it to drop to the ground, which is arguably easier, but of course produces no corpse, and may be considered a waste of sprays. Occasionally in Pikmin 2 in caves such as the Subterranean Complex, a Swooping Snitchbug might accidentally throw a Pikmin into the abyss below, killing it. Should it throw a Yellow Pikmin that is holding a bomb-rock, the bomb-rock will explode, killing the Yellow Pikmin and all Pikmin getting caught in the blast. The position of the Swooping Snitchbug in the Enemy reel, which is otherwise alphabetical, indicates that the creature's name may originally have started with "flying".

Notes

Reel notes

This rare species uses its antennae as wings.

Olimar's notes

The scarpanids originally lived on the ground, sporting poorly developed vestigial wings. This species developed enlarged antennae that can be used as makeshift wings. Scarpanids are attracted by the sight of large groups of Pikmin in cavalry formation and will swoop down to seize them. However, scarpanids do not eat Pikmin, and they will drop any seized Pikmin after a short time. The reason for this behavior is unknown, but I look forward to future research in the area.

Louie's notes

Remove the wings, marinate a well-marbled steak for several hours in a chipotle marinade, then charbroil to perfection.

Gallery

Brawl Trophy Description

File:SSBBSnitchbug.jpg
The Swooping Snitchbug trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

A member of the scarpanid family. Although originally a ground dweller, its oversized antennae developed into wings, allowing it to fly around freely. The snitchbug doesn't eat Pikmin, but rather picks them up, carries them away, and firmly replants them in another location.