Line #228 Main/AtrociousArthropods


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6	[[caption-width-right:350:[[MemeticMutation Reject humanity. Advance to crab.]]]]
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12
13	There is something about small creatures that crawl, slither or fly that some people just find unsettling. Whether it's because they can be dangerous when they get into our food, can be potentially fatal with their stings or bites, their presence indicating uncleanliness and pollution or [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking just because they can be very annoying]] [[BugBuzz when they buzz around]].
14
15	Despite constituting the largest phylum in the animal kingdom and making up ''eighty percent'' of all animal life on Earth, arthropods - or arthropod-like creatures - have a habit of appearing in fiction as villains or monsters to be feared. The most common choices are scorpions, spiders, cockroaches, flies, and mosquitoes, but even more "benevolent" arthropods such as butterflies, ladybugs, ants, and crustaceans can be used. Of course, it doesn't matter how dangerous or harmless these creatures are in real life.
16
17	Atrocious Arthropods are quite often [[InsectoidAliens aliens]], monsters and [[MechanicalInsects robots]] due to how their designs lend themselves to [[BigCreepyCrawlies large, scary creatures]]. They will often be the evil faction in the BugWar.
18
19	WhatMeasureIsANonCute and evolution itself can be a factor in this trope, since humans seem to have a biologically ingrained panic response to arthropods, presumably a holdover from prehistoric times where transmissible diseases would be more commonly received via insect bites, and because of this, many people consider most arthropods to be scary or ugly. However, the general consensus is that this response may be easily overridden through frequent exposure to arthropods early in life. In most other cultures, arthropods are more likely to be considered appetizing food than objects of fear.
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21	Compare ReptilesAreAbhorrent. Contrast FriendlyNeighborhoodSpider, PrettyButterflies and VirtuousBees. Related to FliesEqualsEvil and BugsHeraldEvil.
22
23	SuperTrope to:
24	[[index]]
25	* AntAssault
26	* BeeAfraid
27	* BigCreepyCrawlies
28	* CreepyCamelSpider
29	* CreepyCentipedes
30	* CreepyCockroach
31	* DreadfulDragonfly
32	* GiantEnemyCrab
33	* MosquitoMiscreants
34	* MothMenace
35	* PennyPinchingCrab
36	* ScaryScorpions
37	* SlayingMantis
38	* SpidersAreScary
39	* TermiteTrouble
40	* WickedWasps
41	[[/index]]
42	----
43	!!Examples:
44	[[foldercontrol]]
45	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
46	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
47	** Shawlong Koufang is one of the Arrancar, an advanced form of [[TheHeartless Hollow]] with Shinigami-like powers, whose [[SuperMode Resurrecion]] form is earwig-themed and comes with CreepyLongFingers that are capable of cutting up a ([[PowerLimiter restrained]]) Hitsugaya.
48	** Loly Aivirnne is a sadistic and abusive Arrancar whose Resurrecion form turns her into a giant centipede.
49	** Nnoitra Gilga is an AxCrazy Espada with a [[SlayingMantis praying mantis]] motif. His Resurrección, Santa Teresa, is the Spanish name for a praying mantis. His transformation grants him six arms, giving him an insect-like appearance, and his scythes are meant to evoke the image of a mantis' forelegs.
50	** Kaname Tosen is a traitor Shinigami who underwent the Hollowfication process after joining with [[BigBad Aizen]].His Hollow form is giant cricket creature.
51	** Sosuke Aizen is the BigBad of the pre-timeskip half of the series. His Hogyoku transformations are modeled after a butterfly, with his final form being a disturbing, eldritch butterfly-like creature.
52	* ''Anime/BlueGender'': The Blue are giant bug-like creatures that serve as the main physical threats of the series. [[spoiler:They were created by Gaia to cull the human race for the purpose of wiping out humans in an attempt to save the planet.]]
53	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': Insectoid Digimon appear throughout the various anime series. A few of them have been partners to the heroes (Tentomon in ''Adventure'', Wormmon in ''Adventure 02'') but more often than not they appear as main villains or [[MonsterOfTheWeek monsters of the week]].
54	** ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'': The first antagonistic Digimon the team encounters is a Kuwagamon, an Insectoid Digimon based on a saw stag beetle. Other examples include Scorpiomon, a servant of the Dark Master [=MetalSeadramon=] and Dokugumon, a spider Digimon who served [[ArcVillain Myotismon]].
55	** ''Anime/DigimonTheMovie'': Diaboromon is the main villain of the "Our War Game" portion of the movie. Sporting an insect-like appearance inspired by the [[https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/674cbfe71db2ba5ff17151e999f7e6ad865159b0/0_58_1728_1037/master/1728.jpg?width=1200&height=900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&s=509993097ffad8152a66a6d74d14e665 Y2K Bug]], it is an evil virus Digimon who wreaks havoc across the Internet.
56	** ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'': Arukenimon is an evil Ultimate Digimon based on a spider. She and Mummymon serve [[ArcVillain Yukio Oikawa]], the second human villain seen in the series.
57	** ''Anime/DigimonTamers'': Dokugumon appears as an evil Digimon again, this time trying to eat Rika and Renamon. She is defeated when Renamon digivolves into Kyubimon for the first time.
58	** ''Anime/DigimonAdventure2020'':
59	*** "The King of Insects Clash": Taichi, Mimi, Koshiro and their Digimon are attacked by an Okuwamon and a swarm of Kuwagamon when they reach a canyon. While [=MetalGreymon=] and Togemon take care of the Kuwagamon, Kabuterimon digivolves into [=MegaKabuterimon=] for the first time and slays Okuwamon.
60	*** "Garudamon of the Crimson Wings": A massive [=CannonBeemon=] commands a squadron of Waspmon to kidnap local Digimon to be used by the evil forces. It is defeated when Birdramon becomes Garudamon for the first time.
61	*** "The Wolf Standing Atop The Desert": Garurumon becomes [=WereGarurumon=] for the first time when Matt, Sora, Joe and their partners have to face a Scorpiomon ruling over a desert they are trying to cross.
62	** ''Anime/DigimonGhostGame'': Arukenimon appears as a villain again. She is portrayed as a Digimon that likes to [[BrainFood devour people's brains to gain their intelligence]], and is one of the few antagonist Digimon that is genuinely depicted as evil and unsympathetic.
63	* ''Manga/DragonBallZ'':
64	** Cell is Dr. Gero's ultimate creation, made from the DNA of the galaxy's most powerful warriors. He is an insect-like creature who seeks to achieve his perfect form and is willing to wipe out entire cities to reach his goal.
65	** ''Anime/DragonBallZWrathOfTheDragon'': The Hirudegarn is an ancient being of but pure destruction and one of the main antagonists of the movie. It's second form is that of a large, insect-like creature.
66	* ''Anime/{{Gunbuster}}'': The Uchuu Kaiju, or Space Monsters, are a race of InsectoidAliens bent on eradicating humanity.
67	* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'':
68	** The first villain Saitama ever faced was Crablante, a crab-like monster who didn't hesitate to kill children for making fun of him.
69	** Two of [[MadScientist Dr. Genus's]] artificial mutants qualify -- Mosquito Girl, who is based on a mosquito and is enjoys draining people of their blood; and Carnage Kabuto, a rhino beetle mutant who enjoys fighting and destruction.
70	** The Monster Association is a villain group of [[WasOnceAMan humans turned monsters]]. Some of their members are arthropod creatures such as Awakened Cockroach, Centichoro and Bug God.
71	* ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato2199'': When the crew are investigating a habitable planet in the Beemla System, they are attacked by a giant arthropod. Hieroglyphs in an ancient ruin suggest that it is a feral form of the fallen civilization's livestock.
72	* ''Manga/TerraforMARS'': The Terraformars are humanoid cockroaches who were created to help humans adapt to Mars but evolved and now seek to destroy humans.
73	* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'': A number of villains and antagonists have used insect decks.
74	** ''Anime/YuGiOh'': Insector Haga is the most well known example in the franchise. A highly respected duelist who specializes in insect monsters when introduced, Haga shows himself to be an underhanded cheater when he throws Yugi's Exodia cards into the water. In his return in the Battle City arc, Haga sabotages Jonouchi's deck by slipping in a card that allows him to turn the latter's monsters into insect monsters. The Waking the Dragons filler arc has Haga go full on villain by joining the doomsday cult the heroes are fighting against.
75	** ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'':
76	*** In the second episode, Yusei duels a man named Lenny who wants to take his [[CoolBike D-Wheel]]. Lenny uses an insect deck that focuses on beatdown and swarm tactics.
77	*** Rudger Goodwin is the leader of the Dark Signers, the {{Evil Counterpart}}s to the Signers. He uses a spider deck with his ace monster being the Earthbound God Uru who resembles a giant spider.
78	** ''Anime/YuGiOhZexal'':
79	*** Semimaru is an underground Dueling criminal who was reincarnated as a Barian with a cicada-like appearance. He also uses an archetype of insect monsters called Cicadas.
80	*** ''Manga/YuGiOhZexal'' (manga): Kyoji Yagumo is a ruthless and cruel Numbers Hunter with a Spider deck.
81	** ''Anime/YuGiOhVRAINS'': Aso is a member of the [[AntiVillain Knights of Hanoi]] and uses an insect deck focusing on the Motor Worm archetype. In contrast to the other examples on this list, Aso is a villain with a noble goal, namely saving humanity from the Ignis.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Comic Books]]
85	* Franchise/TheDCU:
86	** ''ComicBook/BlueBeetle'': The ComicBook/New52 reimagines the Reach with a more insectoid look while retaining their role as an antagonistic race of conquerors.
87	** ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'': Parallax is the cosmic embodiment of fear and the creature that possessed Hal Jordan to make him evil. It's appearance is a cross between a dragonfly and reptile.
88	** ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'': Godship, the main villain of ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'', commands an army of large insect monsters.
89	** ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
90	*** The ComicBook/PostCrisis version of Insect Queen is an insect-like alien who seeks to colonize Earth.
91	*** ''ComicBook/KryptoniteNevermore'' has Superman saving ComicBook/LoisLane and her pilot from a swarm of flesh-eating ants.
92	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': The Robert Kanigher run featured the Termite Queen, a one-shot villain who appeared in issue #58. She was a monster termite with a vicious hatred of humans and the ability to telepathically command termites, which she used to make them consume metal and wreak havoc.
93	* ''ComicBook/{{Giantkiller}}'':
94	** The first Daikaiju Jack fights is Ig, an insectoid creature resembling a beetle.
95	** Issue #3 introduces Zomm, a giant [[MothMenace moth-like]] Daikaiju.
96	* Franchise/MarvelUniverse:
97	** ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': Annihilus is the insectoid tyrant of the Negative Zone. He views all other living creatures as a threat to him and believes the only way to survive is to kill everyone else.
98	** ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': Miek, one of Hulk's companions in ''ComicBook/PlanetHulk'' and ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'', doesn't start out this way but becomes this over time. Miek belongs to an insectoid race native to the planet Sakaar. After he encounters several tragedies, including his species facing extinction, Miek becomes obsessed with getting revenge on those who have wronged him, escalating to him [[spoiler:withholding the truth about how the Hulk's wife and children truly died so the Hulk would go Worldbreaker and become a machine of complete rage and destruction.]]
99	** ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
100	*** Mac Gargan aka the Scorpion is a former private eye who was transformed into a scorpion-based villain after he underwent an experiment funded by J. Jonah Jameson.
101	*** Richard Deacon aka the Human Fly was a two-bit criminal who stumbled upon a scientist's lab while fleeing the police. The scientist's experiments transformed into a superhuman using the genetic code of a housefly. Deacon killed the scientist and used his new powers for criminal pursuits.
102	** ''ComicBook/XMen'':
103	*** The Brood are insectoid aliens who serve as antagonists to the heroes. The Brood's goal is to reproduce and consume all resources, and they have been shown to be very sadistic when torturing their victims.
104	*** ''ComicBook/{{Madrox}}'': [[spoiler:Sheila [=DeSoto=], the fiancée of mob boss Eddie Vance]], is the true villain of the story and is a mutant with the ability to take on a terrifying insectoid form. She got engaged to [[spoiler:Eddie]] in order to kill him and take over his racket, and murdered a Madrox duplicate when he learned of her plans.
105	* ''ComicBook/VengeanceOfVampirella2019'': In issue #9, Vampirella and her friends are attacked by a swarm of insect demons. They kill most of them but one of the demons survives to inform Nyx of the battle.
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Fan Works]]
109	* ''Fanfic/ComaBarbie'', a ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' crossover with ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' by [=SideshowJazz=], features a scene where Heather turns into a giant bee. While this is a reference to Maleficent turning into a dragon and Heather's canonical label "The Queen Bee", it fits this trope as the final battle, where she tells them that her stinger pumps as much or as little venom is she wants, so that she can kill the fairies, but just paralyze the prince.
110	* ''Fanfic/EquestriaGirlsFriendshipSouls'': Chrysalis has a very obvious insect motif and is without a doubt the most evil and cruel character in the entire story. While in her Resurreccion form, her upper body remains that of a [[BeautyIsBad beautiful woman]] with a pair of green antennae, while [[OurCentaursAreDifferent her lower half]] is an amalgamation of different kinds of insect and arachnid parts, including over six feet long [[SlayingMantis mantis-like scythe blades]], two sets of wings - [[MothMenace one of a moth's]], one of a wasp's and a [[SpidersAreScary barbed spider abdomen]] [[WickedWasps with a wasp stinger]] at the end. And to add to her status as [[HiveQueen the Queen]], [[MotherOfAThousandYoung she can spontaneously lay eggs to make mindless but powerful offsprings.]] Her part of Hueco Mundo closely resembles a hive and she has the ability to put people in cocoons. [[spoiler:Her son Thorax, while taking a lot from her, [[AvertedTrope is an aversion]].]]
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
114	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'': Tamatoa is a [[DragonHoard greedy]] [[GiantEnemyCrab giant coconut crab]] who attacks our heroes, for vengeance in Maui's case and just because in Moana's case.
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
118	* ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'': Arthropod-themed {{Kaiju}} appear throughout the films as antagonists.
119	** ''Film/SonOfGodzilla'': The Kamacuras are giant praying mantises who try to eat Godzilla's son, Minilla. There is also Kumonga, a GiantSpider that is much more dangerous than the Kamacuras.
120	** ''Film/GodzillaVsMegaguirus'': The titular Megaguirus is a DreadfulDragonfly and the main antagonist of the film. She can siphon energy from her opponents and use their powers against them.
121	** ''Film/GodzillaVsMegalon'': Megalon is an insect Kaiju that seems to be a cross between a mole cricket and a rhino beetle.
122	** ''Film/GodzillaAndMothraTheBattleForEarth'': Mothra averts this by being a heroic moth Kaiju. However, her dark counterpart Battra plays this straight, albeit as a WellIntentionedExtremist. While he also protects the Earth, he is only concerned with the Earth, and any of its inhabitants who threaten the planet will also face his wrath, which happened to the Cosmos civilization when they created a weather control system. In the present day, he awakened to stop an asteroid headed for Earth, but was enraged by modern humanity's pollution and began attacking civilization as punishment.
123	** ''Film/GodzillaVsGigan'': The main villains are a race of cockroach-like aliens who want to take over Earth after their own planet was destroyed by pollution.
124	** ''Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep'': The titular Ebirah is a giant shrimp mutated by the nuclear waste of the terrorist organization Red Bamboo who use him to guard their island base.
125	** ''Film/TheReturnOfGodzilla'': Shockirus are giant sea lice which were mutated by feeding on Godzilla's radioactive blood. At five feet long, they were certainly large enough to be a threat to humans, even if not quite Kaiju-sized.
126	** ''Film/Godzilla2014'': The [=MUTOs=] are the villainous Kaiju of the movie and resemble giant insects. They are a somewhat sympathetic example: Their goal is merely to reunite with one another, have offspring, and ensure the resurgence of their species. Even with the amount of destruction they cause, they are at least sympathetic in this regard. In addition, they usually only cause destruction solely because they're so large and act more like actual animals.
127	* ''Film/MenInBlack'': Edgar the Bug is a giant, sapient roach from outer space that doesn't mind destroying our world, and thinks wars are good because it means more food for his family.
128	* ''Film/MightyMorphinPowerRangersTheMovie'': Ivan Ooze commands two [[MechanicalInsects arthropod-themed]] robots, which he uses to attack the city. One is based on a hornet and the other is based on a scorpion.
129	* ''Film/WildWildWest'': Doctor Loveless is the main villain and has a spider AnimalMotif. His flag has a spider on it, his secret base is in Spider Canyon and the film's climax has him trying to kill President Grant with a SpiderTank.
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
133	* ''Literature/LoneWolf'': Archlord Gnaag has the appearance of a hideous, humanoid fly. He's one of the most dangerous Darklords thanks to his intelligence and careful planning, and serves as the BigBad for most of the Magnakai arc.
134	[[/folder]]
135
136	[[folder:Literature]]
137	* ''Literature/AllTomorrows'': The Qu are InsectoidAliens who feel it is was their right to take living creatures of all stripes and reshape them into the Qu's ideal image.
138	* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': The Skrit Na are an insectoid race who are allies of the Yeerks, the villains of the series. They start out as insectoid but change to a less insectoid appearance as part of their life cycle.
139	* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'':
140	** The Scorpion Lady is an evil demon who tries to get Tripitaka to sleep with her. Her true form is that of a large scorpion.
141	** The Spiderling Spirits are seven spider demons who take the form of human women and try to eat Tripitaka.
142	** The Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord is a centipede demon and the adoptive brother to the aforementioned Spiderling Spirits. He tries to poison the main protagonists and takes Tang Sanzang hostage, refusing to let him go even when Monkey threatens his sisters.
143	* ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'': The Bugs are the alien antagonists of the novels and are utterly ruthless in their war against humanity. That said, it is left unclear which side actually started the war between the humans and the Bugs, and the Federation did expand on planets that had been claimed by the Bugs.
144	* ''Literature/{{Spellsinger}}'': The main villains of the first two books are the Plated Folk, a nation of genocidal insects with a taste for the flesh and blood of sapient mammals. Averted with the Weavers of Gossameringue, a spider nation who are rather scary, but are allies to the heroes.
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
148	* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': The monsters of the week in "Fredless" are vicious giant bugs. [[spoiler:Subverted when its revealed that Angel inadvertently [[MonsterIsAMama stole their children]]. Once the baby bugs are returned, the rest of the hive leave peacefully]].
149	* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': The She-Mantis is the MonsterOfTheWeek in "Teacher's Pet". She is a mantis monster who takes the form of a human teacher in order to find [[VirginSacrifice male human virgins]] to mate with. During the mating process, she bites the male's head off.
150	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Macra from "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS4E7TheMacraTerror The Macra Terror]]" are a race of expansionist alien crabs who have taken over a human mining colony to get the phebotinum the race needs to survive.
151	* ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': The {{Pirate}} Craghas Drahar aka "The Crabfeeder" owes his nickname to the fact that he feeds the hapless sailors he catches to hungry crabs.
152	* ''Franchise/PowerRangers'': Many villains and monsters have an arthropod theme.
153	** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': [[DarkActionGirl Scorpina]] is a minion of [[BigBad Rita's]] who can transform into a giant scorpion-like creature. Other examples of arthropod monsters are Stag Beetle, Commander Crayfish, Spidertron and Grumble Bee.
154	** ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'':
155	*** "Wasp With A Heart" has two insect-themed monsters, Waspicable and Sting King. The former is a subversion of this trope, being a kind-hearted creature that is being forced into evil and pulls a FaceHeelTurn after being befriended by Cassie. The latter plays this trope straight and tries to kill the Rangers.
156	*** "The Barillian Sting" has the Barillian Bugs, a race of scorpion-like aliens whose sting can transform the victim into one of them, as Carlos learned the hard way.
157	** ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'': Scorpius is an alien warlord who is basically a cross between a spider and an octopus. His daughter Trakeena is a humanoid in insectoid armor and takes over as the main villain after Scorpius dies. For extra points, their ship also resembles a cross between a dragonfly and a scorpion. There was also a monster of the week who was based on a lobster.
158	** ''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'': Arachnor is the MonsterOfTheWeek in "Web War". She is a spider-like demon with the ability to scan the Rangers' weapons and find their weaknesses. She was defeated using Carter's [[PoweredArmor Battilizer]]
159	** ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'': The villains of "[[MilestoneCelebration Forever Red]]" are generals commanding the remnants of the Machine Empire, the villains from ''Series/PowerRangersZeo''. The generals are recycled costumes from ''Series/{{Beetleborgs}}'' and thus are based on insects.
160	** ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'': [[JapaneseBeetleBrothers The Thunder Rangers]] are a subversion. They start out as [[PsychoRangers evil Rangers]] but are revealed to have sympathetic motives, namely avenging their dead parents which they were tricked by [[BigBad Lothor ]]into believing the Wind Rangers' mentor was responsible for. They ultimately pull a HeelFaceTurn.
161	** ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'':
162	*** Demagnetron is a the monster of the week in "Game On". He is part diving beetle, part rhododendron and part magnet.
163	*** Insectolite is the monster of the week in "Burning at Both Ends". He is a cross between a centipede, a pansy and a satellite.
164	** ''Series/PowerRangersMegaforce'': The Warstar are a race of insectoid beings who are out to conquer Earth. Their leader, Admiral Malkor, is a moth-like being and one hell of a BadBoss.
165	* ''Series/RedDwarf'': One of the [[GeneticAbomination GELF]] types the Dwarfers have encountered over the years is the Psiren, a creature which resembles a giant assassin beetle. Said creature also lures unsuspecting crew in with their illusions so that they can suck out their brains with a straw.
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Toys]]
169	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'': A theme consistently followed by the franchise from nearly day one, with an overwhelming amount of Transformers with arthropod alt-modes, mostly insects, being evil.
170	** ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1'': The Insecticons are Decepticons with [[MechanicalInsects insect alt modes]]. In addition to serving as {{Mooks}} for Megatron, they possess the ability to convert any sort of matter into Energon for the Decepticons to use.
171	** ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'': The Predacons have many insect, arachnid, and crustacean alt modes among their ranks, with their insignia looking noticeably insectoid. The arthropod Predacons are Waspinator (wasp), Inferno (ant), Scorponok (scorpion), Quickstrike ([[SnakesAreSinister part snake]], [[MixAndMatchCritters part scorpion]]), Tarantulas (spider), Rampage (crab) and Blackarachnia (spider). [[spoiler:Blackarachnia does pull a HeelFaceTurn but doesn't quite shake her Predacon ruthlessness.]] To drive the point home, {{toyline exclusive\|Character}} combiner Tripredacus is made of three arthropods: two insects (a beetle and a cicada), and a lobster.
172	** ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'': The Decepticons are given monstrous animal-like features to contrast with the more [[BeautyEqualsGoodness human-looking Autobots]]. Some of them have arthropod features such as Megatron, Demolishor, Scalpel and Frenzy. There is also Scorponok whose robot mode is a scorpion.
173	** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': Waspinator and Blackarachnia are sympathetic variations of this trope.
174	*** Before she became Blackarachnia, Elita-1 was an Autobot cadet who, along with her friends Optimus and Sentinel, went to the planet Archa Seven looking for a Decepticon ship. The trio were attacked by {{Giant Spider}}s and Elita was presumed dead. In reality, she had used her ability to copy powers from other creatures allowed her to survive being injected with the spiders' venom but she was also transformed into a techno-organic Transformer with a spider alternate mode. Blackarachnia hates the Autobots, particularly Optimus and Sentinel, for abandoning her and has sided with the Decepticons. However, her main goal is to reverse her transformation into a techno-organic and she is depicted as a TragicVillain.
175	*** Wasp was once an arrogant but promising Autobot cadet until he was accused of being Decepticon spy by Bumblebee (the real spy was Longarm Prime aka Shockwave, who had framed Wasp). Wasp was imprisoned and driven mad by the experience, swearing revenge on Bumblebee for ruining his life. He broke out and ultimately fell in with Blackarachnia who convinced him to undergo a procedure that transformed him into a techno-organic Transformer with an insect alternate mode.
176	** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'': In addition to the Insecticons, we also have Airachnid. A sadistic spider-like robot, Airachnid served as a mercenary during the Cybertron War, holding no allegiances to either side. Not only does she hunt other species into extinction for sport, but she also murdered Arcee's first partner Tailgate.
177	[[/folder]]
178
179	[[folder:Video Games]]
180	* ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}'': Some of the bosses and enemies have arthropod-like appearances.
181	** ''VideoGame/DarksidersI I'': Among the villains in this game are The Chosen, abyssal creatures from the Abyss that predate angels and demons. Two of them qualify as Atrocious Arthropods: Silitha, a GiantSpider who feeds those who wonder into her territory to her young or keeps alive as her prisoners if they have information, and the Griever, a massive, feral, insectoid beast. Both of these creatures also have offspring, the Broodlings and the Swarm respectively, who serve as enemies to the player.
182	** ''VideoGame/DarksidersII'': Some of the enemies featured are Stingers, hornet monsters that swarm death and can only be stopped from spawning by destroying their hive, and Scarabs, insect monsters encountered in the dungeons of the Dead Kingdom. The latter have larger and stronger variants called Scarab Hulks.
183	** ''VideoGame/DarksidersIII'': One of the bosses is Sloth of the SevenDeadlySins. His appearance is that of a large, green, grotesque bed-bug. He also calls upon insectoid monsters to fight Fury.
184	* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'':
185	** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 1'':
186	*** Beezlebubs are insects possessed by demons, causing them to grow to enormous proportions. Blue Beelzebubs resemble flies and can spit out maggots that stop you from using guns, while green Beelzebubs resemble mantises.
187	*** Phantom is a massive [[MixAndMatchCritter spider/scorpion]] demon who serves as one of the bosses in the game.
188	*** The Kyklops are lesser demon enemies that resemble the aforementioned Phantom.
189	** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'': One of the game's bosses is Noctpteran, a [[MothMenace giant moth demon]] under the command of [[BigBad Arius]].
190	** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'': Agnus is the EvilGenius of [[CorruptChurch the Order of the Sword]], the main villains of the game. In his boss battles, he takes the form of a large insect demon.
191	** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'':
192	*** The Empusa are insect-like demons who deliver all the stolen blood back to the hive which serves as the center of the [[WorldTree Qliphoth]].
193	*** Gilgamesh is a massive, cockroach-like demon that serves as a boss for Nero.
194	* ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'': One of the Ancients is Chatturr'gha who serves as one of the three main antagonists of the game. His physical form resembles a giant crustacean.
195	* ''VideoGame/FlowerKnightGirl'' The Pests are the primary antagonistic threat of Spring Garden, being grotesque BigCreepyCrawlies of various insect species that, once upon a time, were previously beneficial insects that were pets/companions to the inhabitants. But since the introduction of a "[[MysticalPlague Pestification poison]]" into the region, they've changed into hostile arthropods that have threaten the lives of Spring Garden for centuries, causing innumerable death and grief.
196	%%* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':%%This trope is not "arthropods exist". It also isn't a duplicate of Big Creepy Crawlies. Explain how and why these examples are "atrocious".
197	%%** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaofTime'':
198	%%*** The Deku Tree is infested with Gohma and their Queen.
199	%%*** Skulltulas are large, armoured spiders found across Hyrule. They come in a smaller variety, Skullwalltulas, including a rare golden form.
200	%%*** Death Mountain and Hyrule lake each have a variant of Tektites, four-legged leaping arachnoids.
201	%%** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'':
202	%%*** After the curse of Goht is lifted and thaw arrives in the Northern Mountain village, Hylian Hornets can be encountered.
203	%%*** The monstrous titans, Twinmold, are gigantic, mandibled centipedes.
204	%%** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'':
205	%%*** Magtails are overgrown centipedes.
206	%%*** Mothula are giant moths.
207	%%** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'':
208	%%*** Gohma from ''Ocarina of Time'' return in more spider-like forms.
209	%%*** Swarms of Poison Mites are found in the Arbiter's Grounds.
210	%%*** Shadow Insects including the Twilight Bloat are the cursed vessels of the stolen light from the Light Spirits.
211	%%*** Skulltulas are back, more spider than skull now.
212	%%*** Bomblings are arthopods that double as explosives.
213	%%*** Hylian Hornets and Tektikes return.
214	%%*** Tile Worms have chitinous legs and mouthparts, making them more arthopods than worms proper.
215	%%*** And finally there's the massive Armogohma.
216	* ''VideoGame/MarioBros'': [[ReptilesAreAbhorrent Shellcreepers]] notwithstanding, the two main foes that the Mario Bros. face are both arthropods, being Sidesteppers, which are [[GiantEnemyCrab crabs]], and Fighter Flies, which are... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin well]], [[MothMenace flies]].
217	* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'':
218	** Hanzo Hasashi goes by the code name Scorpion. He frequently goes through the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor and can transform into a giant scorpion in ''VideoGame/MortalKombat4''.
219	** D'Vorah is a villain and a member of the Kytin, an insectoid race whose bodies are essentially humanoid hives of insect colonies. D'Vorah is one of the least trustworthy characters in the games, willing to ally with anyone she believes will assure her survival. This often means she is on the side of the villains.
220	* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'': Some of the Bio-Organic Weapons or B.O.W.s for short, have been insects or arachnids transformed into terrifying monsters.
221	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil1'': The Web Spinner and Black Tiger are spiders who have grown into giants as a result of exposure to the T-Virus while the [[VideoGame/ResidentEvilRemake remake]] introduced the Chimera; a creature created by combining human and fly DNA.
222	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil0'': Two of the bosses the main protagonists Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen face are the Stinger and the Centurion a giant scorpion and centipede respectively.
223	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis'': The Drain Deimos and Brain Sucker are massive humanoid insects encountered on multiple occasions by the protagonist Jill Valentine.
224	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'': One of the bosses fought by Chris Redfield is a giant black widow spider which was created by the T-Virus.
225	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'': The Novistadors are giant insects who serve as a host of the Las Plaga parasites, they are capable of turning themselves invisible as well as spitting corrosive acid as an offensive weapon.
226	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'': The Reapers are African cockroaches that have been transformed by accidental exposure to Uroboros.
227	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'': The J'avo are a class of mutant whose body parts transform into arthropod creatures.
228	** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil7'': Giant insects created by the Mold are encountered in the Old House as common enemies.
229	* ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'': In the Senpou Temple area some of the Buddhist monks have become infested with centipedes as part of their pursuit of immortality. The infested will only be resurrected when killed unless they are given a death blow using the Mortal Blade.
230	[[/folder]]
231
232	[[folder:Web Videos]]
233	* Pop Cross Studios: Christian has painted numerous monsters in his art channel, several of which are arthropods. Prominent examples include:
234	** ''WebVideo/WhatIfPokemonWereSCPs'': Three of the [[AdaptationalUgliness uglier]], more dangerous Pokemon in this series are Bug types: Scizor (mixture of crustacean and mantis powerful enough to kill black bears), Heracross (gigantic rhinoceros beetle powerful enough to kill Asian elephants) and Giratina (gigantic centipede-shaped entity regarded as Satan himself).
235	** ''WebVideo/TayrunsAdventuresAndBeastChronicling'': The Leather-backed Omni-Stomper is basically the [[Film/Robocop1987 Ed-209]] depicted as a gigantic bipedal invertebrate ([[CartoonCreature though what type is not certain]]) which is highly territorial and attacks anything that enters its turf (luckily, it still can't climb, so its victims can evade by hiding at the top of a hill until it clears off).
236	** ''In the Depths of the Everyverse'' features Christian's original characters Tayrun and Kayla, exploring the caves of the titular dimension. One of the numerous creatures that attacks them is a gigantic aquatic scorpion with a tail that ends in a humanoid mannequin, which it uses to pretend to be a drowning person to lure Kayla into its grasp.
237	** ''Phobias as Demons'': Arachnibus and Entomantis are two [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] who eat people that suffer from specific phobias. Arachnibus eats arachnophobes, so as its name implies, it takes the form of a gigantic spider with SlasherSmile patterns covering its abdomen and fangs, whereas Entomantis eats entomophobes, and takes the form of a gigantic hornet with four legs shaped like a mantis' arms. Arachnibus can inject its prey with a venom that paralyzes them and increases their fear, whereas Entomantis' venom attracts smaller stinging insects to its victims to continue tormenting them.
238	[[/folder]]
239
240	[[folder:Western Animation]]
241	* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'':
242	** "Courage in the Big Stinkin' City": Schwick is an anthropomorphic cockroach who lures people into the Radio City Hall basement where they are eaten by a [[NothingIsScarier mysterious creature that is never shown on-screen.]]
243	** "Evil Weevil": Jeeves Weevil is a giant weevil who takes a job as Eustace and Muriel's butler with the intent of eating them.
244	** ''StraightOuttaNowhereScoobyDooMeetsCourageTheCowardlyDog'': Nowhere is being plagued by giant cicadas who provide the main conflict in the story.
245	* ''WesternAnimation/DinoRiders'': The Rulons are a race of BeastMen who serve as the villains of the setting. Amongst them are Antor, an ant creature, and Lokus, a locust creature.
246	* ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries'': A number of the evil {{Kaiju}} Godzilla fights are arthropods: the Megapede, Fire Monster, Giant Scorpion, GiantSpider, El Gusano Gigante, the Giant Bees, Giant Termites.
247	* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'': The eponymous robot in the episode "The Robot Spy." When first discovered, it looks like a bowling ball that's 30 inches (75 cm) in diameter. The Quest team put it in a storage shed overnight, intending to examine it more closely in the morning. Left alone, the ball spouts four very long articulated legs, and opens one big eye. Under the command of its master Dr. Zin, the robo-spider then goes sneaking around the facility, aiming to analyze Quest's newest SecretWeapon.
248	* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuestTheRealAdventures'': "Digital Doublecross" has Jonny and Jessie having to deal with a virus created by Surd which has infected Questworld and created digital duplicates of them. While trying to evade said duplicates, Jonny and Jessie head into a hive level where they also have to fight off bee-like monsters.
249	* ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR'':
250	** Gorrathh is the leader of the [[AliensAreBastards, the Glorft]], an alien race that has all but completely wiped out humanity in the future. In the first episode, Gorrath's mech displays the ability to transform into a spider-like form.
251	** The R.E.G.I.S. Mark 5 is a spider-like alien robot hellbent on destroying everything in sight.
252	* ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlackTheSeries'': Edgar's race of insect aliens appear as villains in the series. The Queen orders a bounty on Agent L's head as revenge for Edgar's death.
253	* ''WesternAnimation/MummiesAlive'':
254	** Scarab is an ancient wizard who murdered Presley in his previous life as a young pharaoh. He can transform into a beetle creature in battle.
255	** Jakal's [[CainAndAbel evil brother]] Arak has armor based on a scorpion.
256	* ''WesternAnimation/TheMummyTheAnimatedSeries'':
257	** In "Trio", Imhotep fuses with a spider creature called the Nihansan that was sealed away.
258	** One of the recurring villains is a beetle creature called the Scarab.
259	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':
260	** {{Subverted}} with the Changelings, a race of creatures that look like a cross between a Pony and a winged insect. They're initially introduced as a HordeOfAlienLocusts who terrorize Equestria and have a HorrorHunger for love. However, it's eventually revealed that they're being deliberately starved for love by Queen Chrysalis, and once they learn more about friendship, they make a HeelFaceTurn, complete with a metamorphosis into more beautiful forms which resemble a cross between a deer and a stag beetle. [[InsectQueen Queen Chrysalis]], however, plays this trope straight, refusing to change and eventually forming a BigBadEnsemble with some of the former villains of the series in a bid to conquer Equestria.
261	** The main characters have fought creatures resembling insects. These include the Bugbear (a vicious cross between a [[BearsAreBadNews bear]] and a bug), Flyders, flying Spiders who apparently consider Ponies to be food, and the Flash Bees, which have electric stingers and are highly aggressive.
262	* ''WesternAnimation/TheOctonauts'': A skull spider from "The Beetle Invasion" attempts to eat one of the Bombardier beetles alive with an evil grin on her face. [[FaceYourFears Kwazii deals overcomes his arachnophobia by stopping her]].
263	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'':
264	** Roach Coach from "Insect Inside" is a roach in a humanoid robot suit who commands an army of cockroaches to take over Townsville.
265	** The MonsterOfTheWeek in "Bubblevision" is a giant ant creature.
266	** In "[[WhatDoTheyFearEpisode Power-Noia]]", HIM torments the girls with nightmares revolving around their worst fears. In Buttercup's case, her nightmare is being attacked by giant spiders due to her arachnophobia. The climax has the girls fight HIM who has taken on the form of a freakish, scorpion-like creature.
267	* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Steven and the Crystal Gems spend much of the series battling a variety of mysterious creatures, some of which resemble insects and crustaceans, such as the Centipeetle and Colossal Crab. [[spoiler: Subverted when it's revealed those creatures are actually corrupted Gems, so they are more BrainwashedAndCrazy than outright villainous.]]
268	* ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperForceGo'':
269	** "Flytor": One of the creatures mutated by Skeleton King to attack Shugazoom is a crab.
270	** "The Stranded Seven": The heroes crash land on a planet whose [[CatFolk feline inhabitants]] are being terrorized and oppressed by a race of praying mantis creatures called the Mantidons.
271	** "Invasion of the Vreen": The heroes battle the Vreen, a race of mutated insects who seek to devour Shugazoom.
272	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987'': In "Enter The Fly", [[EvilGenius Baxter Stockman]]'s latest failure drives Shredder to call in [[DumbMuscle Rock Steady and Bebop]] to take on the Turtles. Since the unstable dimensional interface requires somebody be sent back through the portal to maintain the balance, Baxter is selected to be sent through a portal to Dimension X while Rock Steady and Bebop are teleported to Earth. But unlike what the title may hint to older viewers the teleportion itself goes on without a hitch. Unfortunately, Krang sees no use in keeping a human ally alive for no apparent reason, and heartlessly orders for his execution. Its then that he is shoved into Krang's disintegration unit and a housefly gets caught in the process and fuses with Baxter, transforming him into a deranged fly-creature, with both human and fly thoughts and desires.
273	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'': In "April's Artifact", April and the Turtles are accidentally transported to another dimension where they are attacked by giant wasps.
274	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': The Turtles face quite a few of them, like the cockroach in "Cockroach Terminator", the mutant wasp in "Parasitica" and [[spoiler:Baxter Stockman after he mutates with fly DNA.]]
275	[[/folder]]

Context Main / AtrociousArthropods