The dweevil family (ショイグモ科?, lit.: "Carrying spider family") is a species of enemies found in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 4 that resemble spiders. All members are known to collect treasures, dead creatures, resting leaders and other objects in order to mimic them or use them for some other purpose.
Most possess elemental attacks, which they do not use unless aggravated, and they are mostly found underground, with some appearing aboveground in Pikmin 4 only. The size of smaller Dweevils' bodies makes landing a Pikmin on them difficult; they are most easily defeated using Purple Pikmin, which can home in on enemies when thrown, and even stun the beasts without having to land right on them.
Members
Anode Dweevil
- Main article: Anode Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia volticula
The Anode Dweevil is yellow and attacks with an electrical discharge, which, like other electrical hazards, will immediately electrocute and kill Pikmin vulnerable to electricity without a chance to save them, thus making it one of the most dangerous common Dweevils. This makes Yellow Pikmin the best choice in battle against them. Its attack is a bit harmful to leaders unless the Anti-Electrifier has been collected, which grants immunity to electric attacks.
Fiery Dweevil
- Main article: Fiery Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia napalmens
The Fiery Dweevil is the most common Dweevil in Pikmin 2. It is a red Dweevil that, when agitated by attacks, will release searing flames that will set nearby Pikmin on fire. This makes Red Pikmin ideal for combating this creature. It is still able to hurt leaders unless they have obtained the Scorch Guard, which makes them immune to fire attacks.
Hydro Dweevil
- Main article: Hydro Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia aquadis/Mandarachnia sulfurnid
This is a blue Dweevil which, when agitated by attacks, releases a bodily fluid in an attempt to drown attacking Pikmin. Therefore, pitting Blue Pikmin against them is the best choice. Hydro Dweevils can cause minor damage to leaders, but their low health and weak attacks mean they pose no real threat to them.
Iceblown Dweevil
- Main article: Iceblown Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia glacies
This light blue/cyan colored dweevil's attack consists of discharging an ice attack, freezing any Pikmin it manages to hit, of course unless Ice Pikmin are used, making them ideal for taking this beast down. Oatchi can also handle them effectively if he has the 
Pup Thermal Defense equipped.
Munge Dweevil
- Main article: Munge Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia pungetis
The Munge Dweevil is a purple Dweevil that releases a poisonous gas when attacked; this poisons any Pikmin that are not immune to it, making White Pikmin top notch when fighting these creatures. However, since leaders have air filters, they can be beaten easily without Pikmin.
Titan Dweevil
- Main article: Titan Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia gargantium
The Titan Dweevil is the last boss in Pikmin 2. It is by far the largest of all known Dweevils, and can only attack using the four treasures it has picked up and its arms, the latter of which causing no damage. This means that without the treasures, it is actually harmless. It is found on the final sublevel of Dream Den, where Olimar and the President find Louie sitting on top of a mound of treasure. When they approach the mound, however, it reveals itself as the head of the Titan Dweevil and starts to attack.
Venom Dweevil
- Main article: Venom Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia venenum
The Venom Dweevil is a new bluish-green dweevil introduced in Pikmin 4, though it shares much with the Munge Dweevil, as it releases poisonous gases on attackers. Also like them, the strategy of using White Pikmin is recommended. Oatchi can also handle them effectively if he has the Pup Sniff Saver equipped.
Volatile Dweevil
- Main article: Volatile Dweevil.
Scientific name: Mandarachnia explodus
Volatile Dweevils prefer to carry bomb-rocks over all other objects; when one sees a leader or Pikmin, it follows it and the bomb-rock's timer starts. When this detonates, the Dweevil is killed, making the best tactic when confronted with one of these to run away. It is also possible to petrify one with an ultra-bitter spray and then kill it without it ever exploding. Upon defeat this way, the creature may leave behind nectar, or possibly a spray. These Dweevils commonly drop from ceilings, and they are the only enemy that can die in the Piklopedia in Pikmin 2.
Minor glitch
- Main article: Glitches in Pikmin 2#Zombie_Dweevil.
If a Dweevil is punched on its last bit of HP right when it picks up an item, it will remain alive, but with no HP.
Naming
The name "Dweevil" is a portmanteau of the words "weevil", an insect species, and possibly the word "dwell", referring to their habits underground and in caves. In Japan, smaller dweevils have ショイグモ? in their name, which translates to "carrying spider", referring to their spider-like appearance and how they carry things in their backs.
The family genus, Mandarachnia, genus refers to Arachnida, a real world class that includes spiders. The internal name for each small dweevil uses the word otakara, which means treasure; again, this refers to their carrying ability.
In the GameCube Interactive Multi-Game Demo Disc Version 18, the genus name used for the dweevils is missing an 'n', making it Mandarachia.[1]
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Japanese |
ショイグモ科? Shoi gumo ka |
Carrying spider family | |
 Chinese(traditional) |
背蛛科 Bèi zhū kē |
Therididae | |
 French |
araknéaks | ||
 German |
Araks | ||
 Italian |
Opiliodi | A variation on "Opiliones", a genus of spider-like arachnids. | |
 Korean |
업어거미 과 eob-eogeomi gwa |
Carrying spider family | |
 Portuguese |
Aracnarunchídeos | Arachneevilidae | The name is a portmanteau of "Aracno" (arachno), "caruncho" (weevil) and the suffix "-ídeos" (-idae), which is used for naming animal family names |
 Spanish (NoA) |
Arañas | Spiders |
Origin
Despite their name, Dweevils do not resemble real-world weevils much outside of their antennae or "feelers". They seem to be inspired more by cellar spiders and harvestmen, complete with small bodies and long legs segmented by bead-like joints. These arthropods are often referred to as "daddy long-legs", which is referenced in the names of boss enemies in the arachnorb family, which is similar to the dweevil family.
Trivia
- When a leader uses the Napsack near a Dweevil, it is possible for the Dweevil to pick him up to mimic him. However, because it runs away from leaders, it won't sit still once it grabs one of them. This can sometimes result in a glitch.
- In Pikmin 2, the Dweevils can still kill Pikmin after they die; unlike most enemies, when the health circle reaches zero, it will not interrupt an ongoing attack animation.
- In Pikmin 4, all Dweevils can carry up to 150 times their own body weight without slowing down, as shown by the King of Meats in the Piklopedia. In normal gameplay, the heaviest thing they can be seen carrying is the 30 weighted Sovereign Bulblax in Giant's Hearth. In Pikmin 2 where small Dweevils have a slightly heavier weight of 3, this title goes to the Possessed Squash in Dream Den sublevel 8, also with a weight of 30.
- In the Japanese version, all small Dweevils are treated as belonging to the same species, and thus have the same Japanese name. Their differing traits and colors are said to develop as they mature.
- On the title screen of Pikmin 2's "Summer" theme, one can see some Dweevils scurry along the tree as the camera moves to the ground. These Dweevils, however, use the same textures as Ravenous Whiskerpillars.
See also
References
- ^ Proto:Pikmin 2/Piklopedia Entries on The Cutting Room Floor
