Scatterbug Line
Morphs [Oak Catalog #]
- Scatterbug [#664]
- Spewpa [#665]
- Vivillon [#666]
Morphology and Notable Bio
The Scatterbug Line is a group of lepidopteran Pokémon found worldwide, but originating in the Kalos region. The first morph, Scatterbug, is a grey caterpillar Pokémon about 0.3 m long and weighing about 2.5 kg on average. They have a disproportionately large head in comparison to the rest of their bodies topped with three white hair tufts, khaki-colored eyes with black, square sclera, and are covered with a fine powder all over their bodies. The average Scatterbug spends its days eating as much plant matter as possible in preparation for evolution. If attacked by avian Pokémon such as Fletchling, it will release black spores that will paralyze the Pokémon, giving the Scatterbug a chance to escape. They also carry another powder that possesses both insulating and cooling properties, allowing them to remain active in just about any climate.
The second morph, Spewpa, is about 0.3 m and 8.4 kg on average. Like Scatterbug they have a large, but not disproportionately so, head, similar eyes, and are covered in dust. Unlike Scatterbug the tuft around their neck has become an entire thick coat of hair, and their body stands more upright. Much like Scatterbug their lives are spent preparing for evolution hidden in thicket showers, though their thick hides offer far more protection against their ever present nemesis the Fletching Line. Along with bristling their hairs, spewing silk, or sending out spores, older Scatterbug on the cusp of evolution have the ability to form defensive energy barriers to guard against attack, an ability only shared naturally by a few Pokémon. Following more preparation, they evolve once again.
The final morph, Vivillon, is about 1.2 m tall measured from the bottom of one wing to the top and weighs about 17 kg on average. They have a basic body plan consisting of a small, grey four-legged main body with a large head containing compound eyes that have a pixelated appearance with two antennae, as well as large wings. The wings are the most notable part of Vivillon's appearance, as depending on its environment a Vivillon can have up to 18 known natural patterns. The three most common patterns exhibited within the Kalos region are the Marine, Meadow, and Continental Patterns respectively. The Meadow Pattern, however, is the most well known pattern and is the one most often used in popular depictions of the species. While Scatterbug and Spewpa from different areas also have differing appearances, they are nearly impossible to recognize without being an entomologist. Through generations of breeding, Vivillon enthusiasts have managed to create two more, commonly known as the Fancy and Poké Ball Patterns respectively.
Much like their previous morphs they are also harassed by the Fletchling Line, but Vivillon in comparison to Spewpa is far more frail. To defend themselves, Vivillon use their scales, which produce many forms of powder. One such powder contains a fragrance capable of lulling Pokémon into a calm state in order to keep them delirious enough to get away. Another, created specifically for dealing with Fletchinder and the occasional Talonflame, gets rid of the flame retardant coating defending them from their own attacks so that they can explode in their faces. They also possess the powder used by their earlier morphs, as well as powder capable of poisoning their foes or inducing sleep.
Depending on their chosen environment, the members of the Scatterbug line have developed adaptations aside from the protective powder. Scatterbug and Spewpa living in alpine, subarctic, and arctic environments have been known to hold off on evolution due to the harsh winters, as they require far less food than either Scatterbug or Vivillon in the case of the former, and have developed a natural antifreeze. Desert going varieties can go longer without water, and their powder has developed the ability to more easily collect water from the air.
There are two known subtypes of the Scatterbug Line in existence. The more common subtype has high defensive properties in its dust as well as acute eyesight as a Scatterbug, allowing it to aim attacks with high accuracy. As Spewpa it loses this ability in return to shed its skin at a heightened rate in order to more quickly recover from conditions such as poisoning or paralysis, only to regain its old abilities as a Vivillon. The less common subtype has lesser personal defenses, but has the ability to create defensive barriers for its allies, making them very useful for trainers specializing in double and triple battles.
Rarely, Scatterbug can be born with a white main body and black hair tufts due to a genetic mutation. They evolve into Spewpa with white heads and black hair in an inverse, and finally a white bodied Vivillon, though the wing colors remain the same as a regular Vivillon regardless. These Pokémon are highly prized by collectors, especially with the bred-in patterns.
Habitat
The Scatterbug Line is amongst the most hardy and cosmopolitan of all Bug types, being found in environments ranging from forests and grasslands to desert and tundra in every other region, though they appear to prefer forests of any kind due to the ease of finding food. They also prefer to be near areas with lots of water, with Vivillon being particularly skilled at ferreting out water sources, though the desert inhabiting varieties can get most of their water from their food. Within Kalos, they can be most commonly found within the Santalune Forest between Kalos Routes 2 and 3 as well as within the berry farm off Route 7.
Diet
Scatterbug mainly eat leaves and berries in order to gather enough nutrients for evolution. Spewpa in the wild normally don't eat a lot, though trained ones are capable of eating leaves and berries supplied by their trainers. Vivillon's diet is mainly liquid-based, focusing on nectar, though they can eat just about anything water-soluble, and can eat berries and Poké Puffs in small amounts. They have also been known to steal from Combee hives in groups by using Sleep Powder to subdue the guards before eating at their leisure.
Hazards
While generally peaceful by nature if not provoked, like most Pokémon the Vivillon Line has its dangers. Scatterbug are normally peaceful, but if provoked they will attack with paralyzing spores or wrapping up their adversaries with silk, the former being capable of causing death via anaphylactic shock. Older Scatterbug are even known to bite their enemies, which can require a trip to the hospital for puncture wounds. Spewa have similar dangers, though their slowness means they're more likely to defend themselves with barriers.
The most dangerous morph, however, is Vivillon. Vivillon can use all its previous morphs abilities, albeit with more potency and the addition of what trainers refer to as "Poison Powder", but can also fire blasts of psychokinetic force, drain energy through direct contact, create disorienting sounds, boost its abilities through a psychological high, and in the case of older Vivillon even create localized windstorms. For these reasons it is recommended not to use Fire type moves or "Rain Dance" when fighting an enraged Vivillon, and instead stick to Rock, Electrice, Ice and Flying type moves. Luckily, Vivillon are fairly frail, and one or two good hits is normally enough to subdue them.
Courting and Childrearing
While older Scatterbug and Spewpa are capable of breeding in captivity, in the wild breeding is done by Vivillon only. When it is time for Vivillon to mate, they return to their original nesting spots and dance in midair with the opposite gender in order to determine fertility and vitality before mating. The female Vivillon will lay a number of eggs within and under tree trunks and branches before departing, as in the wild they take little care of their progeny. This differs in arctic and desert regions, as due to a dearth of trees the Vivillon mothers will lay their eggs in abandoned burrows and grasses. The latter are known to lay larger amounts of eggs due to the harshness of their environment.
Once the Scatterbug hatch, they are on their own in forests, though Vivillon in deserts and arctic environments tend to take a more direct, if aloof, interest in their Scatterbug's welfare. Studies in captivity of Scatterbug born to parents from different areas show that what pattern they take on as adults is solely dependent upon the mother.
Social Structure
Scatterbug can be found in either groups or alone, though Spewpa tend to trend towards the latter due to their need to hide. Vivillon, on the other hand, spend their time in large flocks that can blot the sky in large enough numbers. They have also been known to hang around other lepidopteran Pokémon such as the Caterpie and Wurmple Lines where their ranges overlap, and work together in order to steal from Combee hives.
Occasionally in the areas in which they overlap have Vivillon been known to team up with Volcarona, and use a combination of weak fire attacks and explosive powder to subdue Combee guards on a much larger scale.
In Human Culture
In modern culture perhaps the most common use of Vivillon is in Bug type collections due to their numerous variances in wing pattern. While in the past this often took the form of actually hunting them with special arrows (As other methods could damage the wings) and mounting the corpses on walls, in modern times they are often traded for instead. However, a small but lucrative poaching business still exists, particularly for the rarer patterns from isolated areas. While Scatterbug and Spewpa are often reviled by Kalosian farmers as pests due to their voracious appetites, Vivillon in contrast are welcomed as pollinators. Vivillon also enjoys use by spring hunters, as their skills are a godsend for those searching for natural fresh water sources. Their powder is also often used as makeshift gunpowder in some communities due to its explosive properties, and their eyes have been used as the model for disco balls.
In the areas to the southeast of Kalos, Vivillon and its relatives were seen as aspects of the soul or mind similar to Butterfree within Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, while to its north the first Vivillon spotted was often killed in order to prevent a year of bad luck. Within popular culture, examples of the Scatterbug Line include a woman transfigured into one within the third installment of a popular videogame series, and as motifs for various characters representing either rebirth or doom, in the case of the latter especially due to its numbering under the National Pokédex system.
To be more exact, amongst the more conspiracy prone and/or occult crowd, Vivillon's Dex number combined with the six white spots on the eyes, left wing, and right wing of many of its variations have had it used as a symbol of the End times. Amongst Gym Leaders, Vivillon is known to serve as the ace of the Santalune Gym Leader Viola.
Written by rmctagg09.
