Hydro Dweevil

Hydro Dweevil
Appears in	Pikmin 2, Pikmin 4
Scientific name	Mandarachnia sulfurnid; Mandarachnia aquadis (Pikmin 2 on Nintendo Switch onwards)
Family	Dweevil
Areas	None
Caves	Frontier Cavern, Hole of Heroes, Dream Den
Challenge Mode stages	Dweevil Nest, Hazard Training
Dandori Challenge stages	None
Dandori Battle stages	None
2-Player Battle stages	None
Attacks	Sprays water

The Hydro Dweevil (ルリショイグモ^?, lit.: "Lapis Lazuli Carrying Spider"), called the Caustic Dweevil in the GameCube and Wii versions of the game, is an enemy in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 4. A non-aggressive member of the dweevil family, it picks up any treasure or enemy corpse it can find, only releasing it when Pikmin interfere, at which point it will attack them by spraying water, which suffocates and drowns all Pikmin types except Blue Pikmin and Bulbmin, making those the best choice in battle against it.

Stats

Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health	Regen.
3	6	5^{[note 1]}	× 2	150	No

^ This enemy cannot be delivered to Onions in-game. This information is obtained from the game files.

Notes

Olimar's notes

“The caustic dweevil is one member of an insect family known for mimicking objects by carrying them on their backs. Several points of differentiation with other members of the species have been confirmed, such as body color and behavioral patterns, but none of these suggest major deviations in the creature's genetic structure. This makes it clear that it is a relative of the family. When attacked by enemies, the caustic dweevil spits out bodily fluids in response. Space suits corrode and oxidize when they come in contact with this highly acidic liquid.”

Louie's notes

“Inedible. Effects of consumption include uncontrollable arm flailing and enthusiastic dishwashing.”

Pikmin 2 Nintendo Player's Guide

“They'll make your skin crawl on sight, but the worst Caustic Dweevils can do to your troops is to spit water at them. Use only blue Pikmin in the battle if you can, and toss them at the beast's body. If you use other types of troops, be ready to whistle them free from the bubbles.”

Behavior

Hydro Dweevils scurry about randomly and take no note of the presence of any leader or Pikmin if left undisturbed. When provoked one will attempt to defend itself by releasing a pressurized spurt of water below it. Hydro Dweevils are frail creatures and will die quickly if attacked by even a few Pikmin, or by the punches from a leader.

When a treasure or a corpse of another creature is nearby, a Hydro Dweevil will lift it up onto its head and carry it, making it impossible for Pikmin to collect until it is broken free. When a Dweevil has an item in its possession, it will stay at rest, crouching down, appearing as if it is only the item, until it is approached by a leader or Pikmin, at which point it will stand up and run away.

Strategy

The following article or section contains guides.
The strategies shown are just suggestions.

Throw any type of Pikmin onto a Hydro Dweevil's small head. Although they can harm non-Blue Pikmin, they are weak and often die before getting a chance to attack at all, and this does not kill Pikmin instantly, allowing them to be whistled to safety by a leader if they do come into contact with the attack. Be aware, however, that depletion of a Dweevil's HP will not stop an oncoming attack, so if one starts its attack animation, be prepared to whistle your Pikmin back. Purple Pikmin are particularly useful in defeating large numbers of smaller Dweevils with ease, since they stun when thrown, halting any enemy attacks, usually until death. Also to be advised is that the Hydro Dweevil can stun leaders regardless of what upgrades they have, this can put suffering Pikmin in danger of dying as the stun will prevent whistling while active.

Alternatively, you can use leaders to defeat the creature in an ultimately safer way. Run up to it and punch it until it begins its attacking animation, leaving plenty of time to run away before it attacks. Run back and continue the assault when the water flow stops.

Technical information

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name			`waterotakara`
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	0.1
s004	bounceFactor	Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?)	0.3
fp00	ライフ	HP	150
fp01	マップとの当り	Unknown (related to slopes)	30
fp02	ダメージスケールXZ	Horizontal damage scale	0.1
fp03	ダメージスケールY	Vertical damage scale	0.1
fp04	ダメージフレーム	Damage scale duration	0.5
fp05	質量	Unknown (weight?)	0.01
fp06	速度	Move speed	80
fp08	回転速度率	Rotation acceleration	0.25
fp09	テリトリー	Territory radius	200
fp10	ホーム範囲	"Home" radius	75
fp11	プライベート距離	"Private" radius	70
fp12	視界距離	Sight radius	200
fp13	視界角度	FOV	180
fp14	探索距離	Unknown (exploration radius?)	300
fp15	探索角度	Unknown (exploration angle?)	90
fp16	振り払い率	Successful shake rate	1
fp17	振り払い力	Shake knockback	250
fp18	振り払いダメージ	Shake damage	1
fp19	振り払い範囲	Shake range	25
fp20	攻撃可能範囲	Unknown (shock attack max range?)	25
fp21	攻撃可能角度	Unknown (shock attack max angle?)	25
fp22	攻撃ヒット範囲	Unknown (attack hit range?)	60
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?)	50
fp27	ライフの高さ	HP wheel height	75
fp28	回転最大速度	Rotation speed	4
fp29	警戒時間	Unknown (warning time?)	15
fp30	警戒ライフ	Unknown	50
fp31	ライフ回復率	Regeneration rate	0
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	25
fp34	ピクミンとのあたり	Pikmin damage radius	5
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	1 (100%)
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	6
ip02	振り払い張付１	Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement	5
ip03	振り払い打撃Ｂ	Shake mode 2 – hit count	12
ip04	振り払い張付２	Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement	10
ip05	振り払い打撃Ｃ	Shake mode 3 – hit count	17
ip06	振り払い張付３	Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement	20
ip07	振り払い打撃Ｄ	Shake mode 4 – hit count	22
Specific properties
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
fp01	オタカラライフ	Unknown (damage until treasure is knocked off?)	80
fp10	ノーマルアタック	Unknown	1
fp11	オタカラアタック	Unknown	1.25
fp21	オタカラキャッチ	Unknown	2.5

Other information

Size: Leg span: 54mm, as per the e-card
Pikmin 2 Piklopedia number: #39

Naming

See more: Dweevil family#Naming.

Common name: Hydro Dweevil. Hydro comes from the word hydration, and is used to describe a power source that uses water. The Hydro Dweevil attacks with high pressure water. In the original English translation, it was named the Caustic Dweevil. Something that is caustic can corrode living tissue, like acid. In this translation, Olimar's notes mentioned that the dweevil attacks with an acidic liquid. This however was a liberty of the localization, and in the Switch port, the dweevil was renamed to the Hydro Dweevil.
Japanese nickname: ルリショイグモ^?, lit.: "Lapis Lazuli Carrying Spider". Lapis lazuli is a blue stone.
Japanese name: セオイカナエグモ^?, lit.: "Carrying Ding Spider". It is shared with the Fiery, Anode, Munge and Volatile Dweevils.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia aquadis. "Aquadis" is similar to "aqua", relating to water. Prior to the Switch port, the scientific name was "Mandarachnia sulfurnid". It uses the word sulfurnid, referring to sulfuric acid.
Internal names: Internally, it is called waterotakara, a combination of "water" and "otakara" ("treasure").
Prerelease: Before being named Caustic Dweevil in the original version, they were initially called Acidic Dweevils, according to the early English script left unused inside Pikmin 2's files.^[1]

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ルリショイグモ^? Ruri Shoi Gumo	Lapis Lazuli Carrying Spider
French	Araknéak Caustique	Caustic Dweevil
Italian	Opiliode caustico	Caustic Dweevil
Spanish (NoA)	Caustiaraña (Pikmin 2) Hidroaraña (Pikmin 2 Switch version and Pikmin 4)	Portmanteau of "cáustico" (caustic) and "araña" (spider) "Araña" with the Greek prefix for water, "hidro"

Gallery

Artwork of the Hydro Dweevil from 'Pikmin 2.
The Hydro Dweevil's model in Pikmin 2.
A Hydro Dweevil releasing its bodily fluids from beneath it.
A close screenshot of a Hydro Dweevil.
The creature's e-card, #41.

Trivia

This is the only dweevil (excluding the Titan Dweevil) to be able to stun leaders even with every upgrade.
The Hydro Dweevil was planned to be included on the 2-Player Battle Roulette Wheel as an enemy, but was eventually removed. It's paired up with the Fiery Dweevil, and it shares its removal with the Spotty Bulbear and the Antenna Beetle.