Lithopod family
Armored Cannon Beetle Larva
- Main article: Armored Cannon Beetle Larva.
Armored Cannon Beetle Larvae are enemies in Pikmin 2. They resemble large larvae with eyes and mouth bearing some similarity to those of the Armored Cannon Beetle. Unlike the full-grown Armored Cannon Beetle, its mouth functions both as inhaling and spitting boulders. It acts the same as the Armored Cannon Beetle, but turns and spits at a faster rate and has much less health. They come in two types; one that walks around and one that burrows out of the ground. These are not different at all except for the fact that one cannot move around. They are vulnerable all over their body, but can buck the Pikmin off when attacked. You can manipulate them into destroying other creatures by making them spit rocks at you when you are beside an enemy. Move out of the way before the rock hits you, and the rock will hit the enemy that was behind you. As a note, the rocks it shoots out cannot be petrified.
Armored Cannon Beetle
- Main article: Armored Cannon Beetle.
The Armored Cannon Beetle is the mature specimen of an Armored Cannon Beetle Larva. Strangely, it was only seen in Pikmin 1, whereas the larval forms were exclusive to the second game. It is a large, black, metallic-looking beetle with a think, rounded shell of armor, a blowhole above its head, and a mouth. It attacks by inhaling through its blowhole and subsequently spitting out rolling rocks from its mouth, crushing any Pikmin in the way. The only way to defeat it is to clog its blowhole with a Pikmin, which will cause the beetle to expose its steaming red backside, possibly either to breathe or cool off. This is its only weak point, so attack it with Pikmin when you get the chance. After a few seconds of agony, the Beetle will eject the obstructing Pikmin (which is thankfully unharmed), re-cover its backside, and continue its attack. This is one of the few insectoid creatures in the series whose adult and larval stages are both seen.
Decorated Cannon Beetle
- Main article: Decorated Cannon Beetle.
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.