Iridescent Flint Beetle

Iridescent Flint Beetle
Appears in	Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4
Scientific name	Pilli envelopens (striped) Pilli envelopens striaticus (spotted)
Family	Flint beetle
Areas	The Impact Site, The Forest of Hope, The Forest Navel, Awakening Wood, Garden of Hope, Twilight River, Sun-Speckled Terrace, Blossoming Arcadia (Story Mode and Olimar's Shipwreck Tale), Giant's Hearth
Caves	Citadel of Spiders, Cavern of Chaos, Hole of Heroes, Dream Den, Crackling Cauldron, Kingdom of Beasts, Frozen Inferno
Challenge Mode stages	The Impact Site, The Distant Spring, Novice Training
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages	Tropical Forest, Thirsty Desert, The Rustyard
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages	None
Side Story days	None
Dandori Challenge stages	Rockaway Cellars
Dandori Battle stages	None
2-Player Battle stages	None
Bingo Battle stages	Blooming Terrace
Attacks	None

The Iridescent Flint Beetle (コガネモチ^?, lit.: "Small Riches Holder") is an enemy in the mainline Pikmin games. Iridescent Flint Beetles are harmless to Pikmin, and instead run around unpredictably. When a Pikmin is thrown directly on top of one, it will flip over and drop a useful object, such as a pellet or a drop of spray. Pikmin attacking from the ground cannot harm them. They spend most of the time underground, only surfacing when a leader comes near, and they will return to the ground after some time has passed or after they have been hit enough times.

The name "Iridescent Flint Beetle" can refer to two different subspecies of creatures: the main one from Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Pikmin 4, or the spotted subspecies from Pikmin 3. Aside from appearance, both subspecies act identically.

Stats

Game	Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health	Regen.
	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1000	0.3 HP/s
(?)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	No
	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	200	No

Pikmin

In Pikmin, the Iridescent Flint Beetle is small, round, and fairly common, with a green body and yellow eyes. They are mostly found in foliage or in corners. When hit, they drop, in order:

• A 1-pellet,
• Two doses of nectar,
• Two more doses of nectar,
• A 5-pellet,
• A 1-pellet,
• Two doses of nectar,
• Two more doses of nectar,
• A 5-pellet.

After that, more hits will not generate anything. This is difficult to achieve before it returns underground, however, due to its unpredictable 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, the Iridescent Flint Beetle's appearance was slightly changed to have a different coloration, and it is slightly smaller. Pikmin no longer attack them 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. 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  / , an Iridescent Flint Beetle may appear that can be controlled with  / . The beetle will be swarmed if it gets close to the Pikmin. This is just one of the main menu easter eggs.

Pikmin 3

The Iridescent Flint Beetle near the landing site in the Garden of Hope.

In Pikmin 3, the Iridescent Flint Beetle was significantly redesigned. Its eyes (now purple) 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. In Pikmin 3 Deluxe's Piklopedia, Olimar confirms this drastic appearance change is due to them being a subspecies of the ones from previous games. 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.

Pikmin 4

In Pikmin 4, the Iridescent Flint Beetle returns to a more familiar design, looking more similar to how they do in Pikmin and Pikmin 2, while also slightly redesigning many aspects of the creature's appearance. Unlike the previous iterations which would drop Pellets or nectar, the Flint Beetle can now additionally drop raw material as well as Pellets, and with increasingly higher rewards as it would before.

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.”

Alph's comments

“Structural flaw: back
Weight: unknown

It reminds me a bit of prize-dispensing machines. Only instead of putting in coins, you throw Pikmin, and instead of toys, you get pellets and nectar.”

Brittany's comments

“The pop quiz of indigenous creatures. You might think you're ready for it, but when the time comes, you're probably not. There's no penalty for failure except missing out on neat rewards, which is basically torture.”

Charlie's comments

“Finding one of these critters means it's your lucky day! If you can manage to hit it with Pikmin, it'll drop pellets and nectar. All you have to do is wait for it to stop and then press the attack!”

Louie's comments

 US version

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

 European version

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

Olimar's comments

“Iridescent Flint Beetle
Pilli envelopens striaticus
Flint beetle family

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. This specimen is a subspecies of the previously documented species, recognizable by the variant pattern on its back.”

Dalmo's notes

“This scuttling little one is a good-luck talisman you'd be happy to encounter. If you're fortunate enough to come upon one, make a wish before it leaves. The way its iridescent carapace changes color depending on the angle you view it from is so distracting that I often forget to wish for something!”

Olimar's notes (Pikmin 4)

“Flint Beetles are known to hide in the grass until approached, at which point they jump out and scurry around.

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 (Pikmin 4)

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

Pikmin Nintendo Player's Guide

“Steeliprax hide in the grass during the day, but they're quite active at night, gathering food to turn into pellets. Steeliprax keep undigested food pellets in their stomachs as food for the winter months, but they will spit them out given the correct stimulus. These pellets seem to be enveloped in a membrane that seals and preserves them in a sterile, airtight environment. If kept at room temperature, this pellet membrane seems to keep its contents from spoilage for up to six months. I also believe that the membrane is made from the same substance that gives the exoskeleton of the steeliprax its beautiful appearance.”

“Pikmin will automatically attack the elusive and harmless flint beetle when it appears. If your Pikmin defeat it, a pellet will appear.”

Pikmin Nintendo Power booklet description

“Pikmin hold a deep hatred for flint beetles. Whenever they spot their shiny shell, they become possessed by rage and will attack without being commanded to do so. Usually, their efforts are unsuccessful.”

Pikmin 2 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

	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. Pikmin Pikmin 2”
How to obtain: Random appearance.		Type: Fighter Related

Smash 4 trophy

	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: Pikmin (12/2001) Pikmin 2 (08/2004)”
	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 Pikmin (06/2002) 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

• Technical name in The Official Nintendo Player's Guide: Steeliprax
• Size: Body length: 30mm, as per the e-card
• Pikmin 2 Piklopedia number: #20
• Pikmin 4 Piklopedia number: #47

Naming

• Common name: Iridescent Flint Beetle. The word "iridescent" means "showing different colours depending on the viewer's angle", referring to its shiny elytron. Flint is a type of hard rock historically used to ignite fires by striking other rocks, similar to how striking it with a Pikmin yields prizes. However, "flint" is also similar to "glint", meaning "a bright reflection of light" – this is used in its relative's name, the Iridescent Glint Beetle.
• Japanese nickname: コガネモチ^?, lit.: "Small Riches Holder". コガネ^? means "Small amount of money", likely referring to how it gives out worse prizes than its golden counterpart, and モチ^? means "holder". "Koganemushi" 黄金虫^? also means scarab beetle, which its color is similar to.
• Japanese name: タテスジルリコガネモチ^?, lit.: "Vertical Stripes Lapis Lazuli Small Riches Holder" (Pikmin, Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 4); マダラルリコガネモチ^?, lit.: "Spotted Lapis Lazuli Small Riches" (Pikmin 3 Deluxe).
• Scientific name: Pilli envelopens (Pikmin, Pikmin 2, and Pikmin 4); Pilli envelopens striaticus (Pikmin 3 Deluxe). Pilli is probably derived from "pill", in reference to its round shape. 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. Striaticus likely comes from "striated", a term for having a narrow streak or groove. While this term better describes the grooves found in the regular variant, the different color of the spots makes them more noticeable.
• Internal names: Its internal name in all of the games is kogane, part of its Japanese nickname.
• Prerelease: None.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	コガネモチ? Kogane Mochi	Small Riches Holder
Chinese (traditional)	小富蟲 Xiǎo Fù Chóng	Small Riches Bug
Chinese (simplified)	小富虫 Xiǎo Fù Chóng	Small Riches Bug
Dutch	Smaragdpraalkever	Emerald splendor beetle
French	Scarabée Iridescent Scarabée iridescent (Pikmin 4)	Iridescent Beetle Iridescent beetle (Pikmin 4)
German	Psychilex		"Silex" is latin for flint
Italian	Iridococco	Iris coccus	From "iridescente" and possibly "cocciniglia" (cochineal)
Korean	황금벌레 Hwanggeum-Beolle	Gold Bug
Portuguese	Silisouro iridescente (Pikmin 4)	Iridescent flineetle (Pikmin 4)	"Silisouro" is a portmanteau of "sílex" (flint) and "besouro" (beetle)
Portuguese (NoE)	Besouro Iridescente	Iridescent beetle	Name taken from a trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Spanish	Escarabajo de sílex iridiscente	Iridescent flint beetle

Gallery

Pikmin

• 

  Artwork of the Iridescent Flint Beetle from Pikmin.

• 

  Drawings of the Iridescent Flint Beetle from the Pikmin Official Player's Guide.

• 

  Pikmin attempting to attack an Iridescent Flint Beetle to no avail.

• 

  A Iridescent Flint Beetle haven been flipped by a Pikmin landing on its back.

• 

  An idle Iridescent Flint Beetle in The Forest Navel.

Pikmin 2

• 

  Close-up of an Iridescent Flint Beetle in Pikmin 2.

• 

  The Piklopedia icon of the Iridescent Flint Beetle in the Nintendo Switch version of Pikmin 2.

• 

  A Iridescent Flint Beetle being 'attacked' by Pikmin.

• 

  A flipped Iridescent Flint Beetle.

Pikmin 3

• 

  Art of the Pikmin 3 Iridescent Flint Beetle from the Official Nintendo Magazine.

• 

  A close-up screenshot of the Iridescent Flint Beetle in Pikmin 3.

• 

  A side view of the Flint Beetle in Pikmin 3.

• 

  The Iridescent Flint Beetle in an prerelease version of Pikmin 3.

• 

  An Iridescent Flint Beetle mid flip after being landed on by a Pikmin.

Pikmin 4

• 

  The Iridescent Flint Beetle's Piklopedia icon.

• 

  An Iridescent Flint Beetle in Pikmin 4's Piklopedia.

• 

  An Iridescent Flint Beetle being hit and releasing a drop of Ultra-spicy spray.

• 

  An Iridescent Flint Beetle in Giant's Hearth.

Other

• 

  The Iridescent Flint Beetle's e-card, #24.

Trivia

• The Iridescent Glint Beetle belongs in a different family, the Glint beetle family, while their genus is the same as the Iridescent Flint Beetles. In real life, it is impossible for members of different families to share a genus; this would mean their genus identifiers are coincidentally the same instead of related.
• 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.
  • In the Spanish version, the Flint Beetle, Glint Beetle, and Doodlebug are from the same family. Even though the Glint Beetle is referred to belong in a different family in the Japanese version.
• In Pikmin 3, when an Iridescent Flint Beetle is hit with a Pikmin and lands on the ground, it makes a clink like a coin hitting the ground.
• The Iridescent Flint Beetle may be based off jewel beetles.
• The Iridescent Flint Beetle can be killed when turned to stone by an Ultra-Bitter Spray in Pikmin 2, or frozen by an ice blast in Pikmin 4.

See also

• Iridescent Glint Beetle
• Honeywisp
• Doodlebug

This article was a featured article from June 1st, 2022 to August 1st, 2022.