Decorated Cannon Beetle
Decorated Cannon Beetle
Granitus decorum
Decorated Cannon Beetles have an appearance identical to Armored Cannon Beetle Larvae, except they are red instead of green. They, too, spit out stones; but their rocks home in on your currently active captain due to the fact that magnetic substance is inside the rock, and unfortunately, you are the metal it homes in on. This species is never found partially buried in the ground. Strangely, even when they are found in caves which are made of metal which is rusty, indicating it contains iron, the spacesuits are the only thing it homes in on.
The best way to defeat it is to go alone and wait for it to spit out a rock. Since the rocks follow you, you can manipulate them. However, it is nigh impossible to get a rock out of a lower water-filled area. The rocks can follow you into the same Beetle that spit them out and damage themselves. This is the most simple and easy way to kill them. These rocks can also be used to defeat other enemies with the same method, but know that one rock can be crushed by another rock, so keep in mind when you are guiding a rock. The longer a rock rolls, the more damage it'll do to the enemy it hits. As a note, the rocks it shoots out cannot be petrified.
Notes
Olimar's Notes
This creature is a larval form of a cannon beetle variant known for a diet consisting entirely of eating rocks. The Decorated Cannon Beetle favors stones with high iron content, which contributes to its red torso. The stones creatures launch are wrapped in a powerful magnetic field which causes the stones to stray from their launch trajectory when other objects with high metal content, such as space suits, are nearby. Extreme caution is recommended for explorers wearing steel-plated armor in close proximity to this fearsome creature.
Louie's Notes
Slice the meat into tender cutlets and vigorously apply a lime and pepper rub. Panfry until lightly crusted. Accompany with watercress and drizzle with freshly prepared tamarind sauce.
How to Kill
Pikmin
It is advised that you don't use Pikmin for this, but if there's not enough room to kill it with its own attack, use the Armored Cannon Beetle Larva strategy.
Captains
Wait for it to shoot out a rock, then slowly walk back around toward the beetle, making sure to avoid sharp turns. The impact should lower its health about half-way, depending on how far you let the rock follow you. Repeat if necessary. If there's not enough room to do this, use the Armored Cannon Beetle Larva strategy. This strategy also works for killing anything around the beetle, usually killing dwarf Bulborbs, Sheargrubs and other small creatures in a single blow.