The Origins of 15 Beetle Pokemon & the Real Beetles Behind Them

Beetle Pokemon come with a species name attached. Pinsir's jaws match Lucanus maculifemoratus hopei, a stag beetle, and Karrablast is based on Carabus smaragdinus, a snail-eating beetle. Only four of them have a beetle or a firefly in their category, so the others show up as ladybugs, grubs and a dung beetle.

See all 15 beetle Pokemon in one list.

Here are the origins of the 15 beetle Pokemon:

All 15 Beetle Pokemon

#127

Pinsir

Pinsir, the Stag Beetle Pokemon, is based on a stag beetle, possibly Prosopocoilus inclinatus, a species commonly used in insect fighting. Its thorny jaws most closely resemble those of Lucanus maculifemoratus hopei, while the diagonal spikes of its Mega Evolution resemble Calcodes versicolor (a Mega Evolution is a temporary, stronger form some Pokemon take in battle).

It clamps its pincers down on its prey and then either splits the prey in half or flings it away. (We would like a third option.)

It stands 1.5 m tall. Its Hyper Cutter ability stops other Pokemon from lowering its Attack, and its hidden ability, Moxie, raises its Attack one stage each time it knocks out a Pokemon (an ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle).

#165

Ledyba

Ledyba is based on a ladybug, particularly the Asian ladybeetle or the seven-spot ladybird, given its bright red color and black spots. Like Ledyba, many real ladybugs form large swarms in cold weather and give off fluid from their leg joints to defend themselves. Its category, the Five Star Pokemon, may come from the Japanese name for the seven-spot ladybird, which translates as seven-star ladybug.

These very cowardly Pokemon join together and use Reflect to protect their nest. We call that a staff meeting.

It stands 1 m tall.

#166

Ledian

Ledian keeps Ledyba's ladybug base and its Five Star category, but its night flying and glow may come from fireflies. Its humanoid body, big oval head and eyes and its love of the stars also recall aliens such as the grey alien. It looks a lot like Pulseman, a hero from another Game Freak game, and like the costumed heroes of tokusatsu shows, with insect-like helmets and flashy martial arts such as Ledian's Comet Punch.

It flies through the night sky sprinkling sparkly dust, and some say good things will happen to you if that dust sticks to you. We will be standing outside tonight.

Its hidden ability, Iron Fist, powers up its punching moves to 1.2×.

#214

Heracross

Heracross, the Single Horn Pokemon, is based on the Japanese rhinoceros beetle. Those beetles are known for their incredible strength and their use in insect fighting, which explains its Fighting type. Mega Heracross is based on a Hercules beetle.

It has an unparalleled horn, and it is capable of throwing several people trained in the traditional arts of war at once. We struggle with one fitted sheet.

Its Guts ability raises its Attack to 1.5× while it has a status problem such as a burn or poison, so hurting it can make it stronger.

#313

Volbeat

Volbeat, the Firefly Pokemon, is based on a lampyrid, also known as a firefly or lightning bug, and its coloring resembles the subfamily Cyphonocerinae. Its look may also come from greasers, a 1950s subculture whose Japanese counterparts are the Bōsōzoku. Greasers wore dark jackets with undershirts and greased their hair, which shows in Volbeat's black shirt, its striped belly and its collar. Even its pose in the official art may nod to greasers popping their jacket collars.

Its tail glows like a lightbulb, it draws geometric shapes in the night sky with other Volbeat, and it loves the sweet aroma given off by Illumise. We would have gone with flowers.

Volbeat is always male, and its hidden ability, Prankster, lets its moves that deal no damage go before other moves.

#314

Illumise

Illumise is Volbeat's counterpart, another firefly, and always female. It may be based on flappers, a 1920s women's subculture known for bobbed hair like Illumise's purple hair. The yellow bow under its neck recalls a Peter Pan collar, and the stripes on its abdomen resemble a girdle.

Illumise leads a flight of glowing Volbeat to draw signs in the night sky, and it earns greater respect from its peers by composing more complex designs. We know which job we would take.

It weighs 17.7 kg in total. Its Tinted Lens ability doubles the damage of its not very effective moves.

#402

Kricketune

Kricketune is the Cricket Pokemon, and its beetle side comes from the violin beetle, whose abdomen looks like a violin, with arms that work like a bow. The balls on its antennae resemble those of Compsocerus violaceus, a beetle from Southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina called the viola beetle in Brazil and guitarrero, guitarist, in Spanish-speaking places. Real crickets chirp by striking their forewings together, but many people believe they rub their legs on their bodies, which is how Kricketune plays.

It uses its cutlass-like arms to make sound, and the melody varies from one Kricketune to the next. (We hum the same three notes.)

Its hidden ability, Technician, powers up moves with a base power of 60 or less to 1.5× (base power is a move's listed strength).

#588

Karrablast

Karrablast, the Clamping Pokemon, started as a snail-eating beetle based on Carabus smaragdinus. Its name, the corrosive fluid it uses to protect itself and its habit of attacking Shelmet suggest a ground beetle, and its horn, which may also come from rhinoceros beetles, looks a bit like an escargot fork. Its bond with Shelmet may refer to coevolution, where predator and prey shape each other's evolution.

It spits a liquid from its mouth to melt through Shelmet's shell, and it doesn't eat the shell, only the contents. We are not hungry anymore.

It stands 0.5 m tall. Its hidden ability, No Guard, makes every move it uses or takes hit.

#589

Escavalier

Escavalier, the Cavalry Pokemon, may draw on the Scaphinotus and Drilus genera of snail-eating beetles, and Drilus beetles pupate inside the snail shells they steal. Its design also seems to be based on a jousting knight. The two ideas meet in medieval European art, where knights are often shown fighting snails, and its body may also take after a cuirass, a knight's breastplate.

It charges its enemies with its lances at the ready, and a famous painting shows Escavalier clashing with Sirfetch'd. We have a passport photo.

Its Shell Armor ability protects it from critical hits, the rare hits that deal extra damage.

#736

Grubbin

Grubbin, the Larva Pokemon, is based on a larval beetle, also called a grub. It also resembles a two-pronged electrical plug,.

It uses its big jaws to dig nests into the forest floor, and it loves to feed on sweet tree sap. We will keep it away from the sockets.

It stands 0.4 m tall. Its Swarm ability makes its Bug moves deal 1.5× damage once its HP drops to a third or less.

#738

Vikavolt

Vikavolt, the Stag Beetle Pokemon, is based on a stag beetle and a railgun. Its straight, scissor-like jaws resemble those of Lucanus hayashii and some Cyclommatus beetles, and they may also take their shape from crocodile clips. Its original way of evolving, leveling up in a special magnetic field, might come from insects such as termites, which use the Earth's magnetism to find their way around their nests.

If it carries a Charjabug as a spare battery, a flying Vikavolt can rapidly fire high-powered beams of electricity. (We bring a phone charger and still run out.)

Its Levitate ability makes Ground moves miss it.

#824

Blipbug

Blipbug, the Larva Pokemon, may be based on a ladybug larva. Its glasses-like eyes and bowtie-like feelers also suggest the stereotypical nerd, and together they may point to a bookworm, a word for both a person obsessed with books and an insect that burrows into their pages.

It is often found in gardens, and it uses the hairs on its body to assess its surroundings. We feel seen by a bug with glasses and a bowtie.

Its Compound Eyes ability raises the accuracy of its moves to 1.3×.

#826

Orbeetle

Orbeetle, the Seven Spot Pokemon, is based on a ladybug, specifically Coccinella septempunctata. Its big brain and mind control may come from science fiction aliens and mad scientists, and from Dinocampus coccinellae, a wasp that lays its eggs on ladybugs. The larva releases a virus that paralyzes the ladybug and makes it guard the wasp from predators, and studies often compare these ladybugs to zombies. The adult wasp has bright blue-green eyes and a thin body, like Orbeetle and unlike a ladybug.

It uses psychic energy to observe what's around it, including things over six miles away. (We cannot find our glasses on our own head.)

Its Gigantamax form, a giant form from Sword and Shield, may be based on UFOs with tractor beams.

#953

Rellor

Rellor, the Rolling Pokemon, is based on a dung beetle, a kind of scarab beetle. The pattern on its abdomen looks like a cartoon pile of poop when seen upside down. Rellor rolls a ball of mud in place of dung, which may refer to dorodango, the Japanese art of shaping mud into a smooth, shiny sphere. The Shiny Rellor rolls a golden ball like a Nugget, which may refer to kin no unko, a Japanese pun linking golden poo with good luck. The sun god Ra was also often shown as a dung beetle rolling the golden sun across the sky.

It rolls its mud ball around while the energy it needs for evolution matures. We relate to saving up for a big change more than we would like.

It stands 0.2 m tall and weighs 1 kg.

#954

Rabsca

Rabsca, the Rolling Pokemon like Rellor, is based on a scarab beetle, the sacred scarab in particular. It may also be based on Khepri, the scarab-faced Egyptian god of the rising sun and of creation and renewal, which may be why Rabsca learns Revival Blessing. Its grey moustache and hair make it look like an old monk or guru who has found enlightenment through meditation, upside down if need be, and the white star on its forehead resembles an urna. The ball's red, see-through shell suggests an amniotic sac.

An infant sleeps inside the ball, and Rabsca rolls it soothingly with its legs so the infant sleeps comfortably. We struggle to rock a baby the right way up.

Its Synchronize ability passes a burn, paralysis or poison back to the Pokemon that caused it.

Pinsir and Heracross Come From Beetles Bred for Insect Fights

Pinsir is modeled on a stag beetle commonly used in insect fighting, where people set beetles against each other. Heracross is based on the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, which is known for its strength and its use in the same fights. That history is why Heracross is part Fighting type.

Beetle Pokemon FAQ

How many beetle Pokemon are there?

There are 15 beetle Pokemon. Pinsir, Vikavolt, Volbeat and Illumise have a stag beetle or a firefly in their category, and the rest come from ladybugs, rhinoceros beetles and other real species.

What is the strongest beetle Pokemon?

Orbeetle has the highest base stat total, 505. Escavalier has the highest Attack at 135, and Vikavolt the highest Special Attack at 145.

Is Heracross a beetle?

Yes. Heracross is based on the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, and Mega Heracross on a Hercules beetle.

Is Kricketune a beetle?

No. Kricketune is the Cricket Pokemon, though it also resembles a violin beetle.

Which Pokemon is a ladybug?

Ledyba, Ledian and Orbeetle. Ledyba and Ledian are based on the Asian ladybeetle or the seven-spot ladybird, Orbeetle on Coccinella septempunctata, and Blipbug may be a ladybug larva.