Swooping Snitchbug

Swooping Snitchbug
Appears in	Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3
Scientific name	Scarpanica kesperens
Family	Scarpanid
Areas	Pikmin The Forest of Hope The Distant Spring Pikmin 2 Perplexing Pool Wistful Wild Pikmin 3 Distant Tundra Formidable Oak
Caves	Pikmin 2 Subterranean Complex Frontier Cavern Snagret Hole Citadel of Spiders Cavern of Chaos Hole of Heroes
Challenge Mode stages	Pikmin 2 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	:  Kidnaps Pikmin :  Kidnaps Pikmin :  Kidnaps Pikmin and pilots

The Swooping Snitchbug (サライムシ Saraimushi) is an enemy found in every Pikmin game so far. They are legless, round, flying insects that have devolved wing-like antennae as a means of moving. They swoop down, as their name suggests, and grab their prey with their claws. After carrying them for a few seconds, they throw them at the ground. This action would harm most prey, whereas Pikmin are simply replanted and reverted to their original leaf state. In Pikmin 3, Swooping Snitchbugs may also grab captains, much like the Bumbling Snitchbug.

These creatures will plummet to the ground if weighed down by a sufficient number of Pikmin, or with a singular Purple Pikmin, rendering it susceptible to further attack. Ultra-bitter Spray 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. A single Rock Pikmin can also weigh it down. 

Should it throw a Yellow Pikmin that is holding a Bomb Rock, the bomb-rock will explode, killing the Yellow Pikmin, all Pikmin caught in the blast, and the Swooping Snitchbug. Occasionally, in the caves such as the Subterranean Complex, a Swooping Snitchbug might throw a Pikmin into the abyss below, killing it. 

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". In Pikmin, it only appears in the Forest of Hope on day 15 and forward, and in the Distant Spring on day 4 and forward.

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."

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Trophy 

File:SSBBSnitchbug.jpg

The Swooping Snitchbug trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

The Swooping Snitchbug appears as a randomly occuring trophy in 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."

Battle Strategy

Pikmin

These creatures can easily be brought to the ground by weighing it down with five or so Pikmin. Yellows are the best option to weigh it down. Afterwards, a simple swarm can defeat it. If the Snitchbug captures a Yellow holding a bomb, it will explode while it is in the air. 

Pikmin 2

The same strategy from Pikmin can apply here. Alternatively, throwing a single Purple Pikmin onto it will weigh it down. Be warned, as on sublevels with abysses, the snitchbug can throw Pikmin down the pit. The snitchbug is much less of a threat in this game. It is advised to not use Purples on metallic sublevels, as there are often bombs on those sublevels.

Pikmin 3

In Pikmin 3, like in all of the other games, around 5 Pikmin are able to weigh the Swooping Snitchbug down, making it easy to defeat. It's recommended to use Yellow Pikmin to weigh it down, as their throwing height insures it will land on the Swooping Snitchbug, and the Snitchbug can fly higher in this game. If you have a reasonable amount of Winged Pikmin, swarming it will be sure to weigh it down. A direct hit from a Rock Pikmin will bring the Swooping Snitchbug down, similar to how throwing one Purple Pikmin on it will weigh it down. 

Glitch

There is a rare glitch in Pikmin: Once you've knocked the Swooping Snitchbug down to the ground, throw your Pikmin onto the creature and swarm it with all of the other Pikmin, which should kill it. Then, carry it back to the Onions by swarming the corpse. Later, you will notice the Pikmin you threw on the squirming Swooping Snitchbug are floating in the air, making the attacking motion as if they are attacking something invisible.

Gallery

• Normal snitchbug-pikmin.jpg

  Artwork of a Swooping Snitchbug carrying Pikmin from Pikmin.

• Swooping Snitchbug(PikminNPC).jpg

  Swooping Snitchbug

• 

  A Swooping Snitchbug in the Creature Montage.

• 

  A Swooping Snitchbug at the Perplexing Pool in Pikmin 2.

• 173.png

  A Swooping Snitchbug in the Piklopedia of Pikmin 2.

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  A Swooping Snitchbug in the Perplexing Pool.

• Pikmin-3-3.jpg

  A Swooping Snitchbug being attacked by some Winged Pikmin in Pikmin 3.

• Info Pikmin 3 2.png

  A closer look of a swooping snitchbug in Pikmin 3.

• Kidnapper.PNG

  A Swooping Snitchbug being attacked from behind by Yellow Pikmin in Mission Mode (Defeat Enemies)

• 

  A very close and detailed view of a dead Swooping Snitchbug.

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  A Swooping Snitchbug in Pikmin 3 holding Charlie.

• SwoopingSnitchbugThrowingAlph-Pikmin3.jpg

  A Swooping Snitchbug throwing Alph.

Trivia

• Using an Action Replay to access a model test menu in Pikmin, the Swooping Snitchbug's code name is "napkid," an anagram of 'kidnap', a reference to how it will capture Pikmin.
• When idle, the Swooping Snitching rubs its hands together, similar to flies. This can also be seen with the Bumbling Snitchbug.
• In some caves with bottomless pits, the Swooping Snitchbug will sometimes throw Pikmin into the abyss.
• Swooping Snitchbugs and Mamutas are the only way to see an implanted Bulbmin.
• In Pikmin 3, the Swooping Snitchbug has no pupils and has more insectoid eyes.
• In Pikmin 3, the sound a Pikmin makes when grabbed is different from its normal squeal.
• In Pikmin 3, if a Pikmin lays down a Bomb Rock, there is a chance the Swooping Snitchbug will grab the Bomb Rock. It will explode in its hands, killing it.
• In the Enemy Reel, the Swooping Snitchbug appears right after the Fiery Blowhog, suggesting that it was originally going to be called the Flying Snitchbug, or at least something similar.