Shearwig

Shearwig
Appears in	Pikmin, Pikmin 2
Scientific name	Himeagea volaris
Family	Mandiblard
Areas	The Forest Navel, The Distant Spring, Perplexing Pool, Wistful Wild
Caves	Snagret Hole, Citadel of Spiders, Hole of Heroes
Challenge Mode stages	None
2-Player Battle stages	None
Attacks	Eats Pikmin

Shearwigs are enemies in both Pikmin games. The females of this species are never seen, as, according to Olimar's notes, they spend nearly their entire life underground. They also do not possess the male's wings. The males have a dark green shell, sporting simple wings and large, sickle-shaped mandibles. They are slightly more aggressive than Male Sheargrubs, and take leave off the ground to hover up high after having lost at least half of their health to allow it to steadily return. While up in the air, these creatures are still within the reach of a Pikmin throw, of which just one accurate button-press is enough to kill one.

Like other Mandiblards, Shearwigs have an affinity for chewing apart stick bridges, and they lose health while in water. As when they are being attacked, the beasts fly up out of the water after losing a certain amount of health, so this cannot kill them. If they are hit in the back, they will die instantly, just like a Dwarf Bulborb. “{{notes:enemy/{{{2}}}|block=y}}”

Killing strategy

The creature can be swarmed until it attempts to fly upward, at which point it should be shot down by having a Pikmin of any type thrown at it. In Pikmin, Shearwigs share the Male Sheargrubs' invincibility trick while grasping a Pikmin, so a Pikmin thrown directly on its back for a one-hit-kill is a safer mtheod. This ability is lost in Pikmin 2, making for an especially quick and easy kill through simple swarming with the C-stick. Another strategy for Shearwigs that appear near water (such as Distant Spring in Pikmin) is to bring a group of about 30 Blue Pikmin and lead the Shearwig into the water, quickly swarming it before it can take off.

Minor glitches

In Pikmin, there is a visual glitch that can happen when the Shearwigs in The Distant Spring by the Massage Machine are hiding underground. If they are hiding right on the ledge that leads into the water, they can be seen above ground, completely motionless.

In the same game, Pikmin that are thrown or ordered into an area where Shearwigs are under the ground attack the ground as if something were there (similarly to the way White Pikmin unearth buried treasure). However, the Shearwigs will not come to the surface unless Captain Olimar moves near enough. This is useful for when Pikmin need to carry objects through an area with Shearwigs or Sheargrubs (such as the Guard Satellite or the Extraordinary Bolt), as the enemies don't attack, and it can be used to indicate whether any Mandiblards lie ahead.

In Pikmin 2's 2-Player Mode, Shearwigs may sometimes pop out when the player digs up a yellow marble. Sometimes, the Shearwigs will move incredibly fast, and will eat Pikmin faster, and also move up and down faster when carried to the Onion. The latter may sometimes happen with Fiery Blowhogs in Pikmin.

Trivia

• This creature's name is based off of the real life "earwig" bug. It has a similar body structure to this creature, but lacks the ability to fly and has legs and a pair of pincer-like mandibles on its abdomen.

Gallery

• Shearwig1.jpg

  The Shearwig's artwork from Pikmin.

• 

  Artwork of three Shearwigs from Pikmin 2.