History Main / ThunderBeetle

A SisterTrope to ScarabPower and ToughBeetles. SubTrope of ShockAndAwe. Compare ElectricJellyfish. For other animal-and-element combinations, see also EarthyTortoise, FieryLion, HotWings and FierySalamander.

A SisterTrope to ScarabPower and ToughBeetles. SubTrope of ShockAndAwe. Compare ElectricJellyfish. For other animal-and-element combinations, see also EarthyTortoise and FierySalamander.

May or may not use their horns[=/=]mandibles as a WaveMotionTuningFork.

A SisterTrope to ScarabPower and ToughBeetles. SubTrope of ShockAndAwe. Compare ElectricJellyfish.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': The Spark Beetle robot employed by G.U.N. occasionally surrounds itself in an electric shield much like the ones the protagonists can pick up. However, it's a robot that only has a vague resemblance to an actual beetle.

* ''Anime/YuGiOhSevens'': Tyler Getz (Getta Taira in the Japanese version) duels his former bandmate, Roa, with his deck is composed of Thunderbeetle monsters. As their names imply, they are electrically-charged beetles with a drum motif.

** The Insecticon Shrapnel from the same era turns into a robotic stag beetle. His special ability is generating and channeling electricity, sometimes on a truly massive scale.
* [[WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty Rick]] once made (among other [[TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior troublingly unchildlike devices]]) a "Taser shaped like a ladybug" at Beth's request when she was younger.

* ''VideoGame/{{Temtem}}'': Scarawatt and Scaravolt Electric-type rhinoceros beetles, an association that's common in Japanese media, which their homeland of Cipanku is [[FantasyCounterpartCulture based on]].

* ''[[VideoGame/MonsterHunter Monster Hunter Online]]'' has the [[http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Lightenna Thunder Beetle Lightenna]], which mostly resembles a rhino beetle.

Beetles being used as symbols of thunder and lightning or given [[ShockAndAwe actual electric powers]]. Stag beetles are the most likely to receive this treatment, with ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucanus_cervus Lucanus cervus]]'' actually being referred to as [[TropeNamer "thunder beetles"]] in some cultures (see the Real Life section below). The firefly is another common candidate, with its ability to produce flashes of light leading some species to be nicknamed "lightning bugs". Interestingly, this association between beetles and thunder and lightning is found both in Western cultures and in East Asia. In Japan this is also common for ''kabuto-mushi'' (Japanese rhino beetles), owing to [[JapaneseBeetleBrothers the popularity of that species]].

* ''Recap/MyLittlePonyLegendsOfMagicAnnual2018'': The creatures the main characters encounter in the AlternateDimension include literal lightning bugs, enormous firefly-like insects that attack by shooting jolts of electricity from their glowing abdomens.

* In ''Videogame/StrangersWrath'' the protagonist uses an electric beetle to fire off blasts of electricity via his crossbow. Aside from functioning like a stun gun it's also used to activate machines.

Beetles being used as symbols of thunder and lightning or given [[ShockAndAwe actual electric powers]]. Stag beetles are the most likely to receive this treatment, with ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucanus_cervus Lucanus cervus]]'' actually being referred to as [[TropeNamer "thunder beetles"]] in some cultures (see the Real Life section below). The firefly is another common candidate, with its ability to produce flashes of light leading some species to be nicknamed "lightning bugs". In Japan this is also common for ''kabuto-mushi'' (Japanese rhino beetles), owing to [[JapaneseBeetleBrothers the popularity of that species]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} 2'' has the Anode Beetle, which pair up to create electrical currents between them. It generally has no inspiration from horned, stag, or scarab beetles, though.