Scuttlebug
Scuttle Bugs (also spelled Scuttlebugs) are round striped spider-like bugs that have appeared as semi-recurring enemies in the Mario series. It is not to be confused with the enemies Skeeter, Pider, and Arantulas.
History
Super Mario series
Super Mario 64
They first appeared in Super Mario 64 and later in its remake Super Mario 64 DS. They act the same as Goombas; when in range they charge at Mario, and punching and stepping on their heads defeats them. They live in Hazy Maze Cave and outside Big Boo's Haunt. The only difference between Goombas is that they give three Coins instead of just one. But in the remake, their appearance changed drastically, taking the shape of their New Super Mario Bros appearance.
Super Mario Sunshine
Scuttle Bugs (named Klamber in the Prima Games stategy guide) reappear in Super Mario Sunshine in the areas Ricco Harbor (In and after Episode 3) and on the underside of Pianta Village. Their appearance was dramatically changed. The insect-like enemies took a more metallic look, and their legs were made into curved, hook-like appendages. This game also introduced their stripes, although unlike most of their other appearances, they have yellow bodies and black stripes instead of black bodies and yellow stripes. Unlike their Super Mario 64 brethren, the Scuttle Bugs of Isle Delfino were much more passive of Mario's presence: instead of running towards him with the intent to damage, they would not stray from their set paths and would only do damage if Mario walked into one. This version of Scuttle Bug would shimmy across grates and walls. Although the Scuttle Bugs on the grates could be defeated by hitting them from the other side, any Scuttle Bugs on walls could only be defeated if Yoshi ate it.
New Super Mario Bros.
Scuttlebugs reappear in New Super Mario Bros., hanging down from webs in World 4-1. They will repeatedly move up and down, and can prove to be useful in giving some extra height by jumping off of them. They also appeared in in World 8-4, where they will ceaselessly drop down from the top of the stage in pairs of two. They detach from their webs almost immediately, and will drop onto the ground and give chase.
Super Mario Galaxy
Scuttle Bugs reappear in Super Mario Galaxy. These Scuttle Bugs are striped and, unlike their bright yellow cousins, mostly dark and dull in color. Some will hang from ceilings and overhangs by a thread of webbing. They appear mostly in the Space Junk Galaxy and Ghostly Galaxy, and make appearances in other galaxies and Bowser Jr.'s Airship Armada. They are found in large numbers along the path leading to Tarantox. The Prima Guide calls the jumping ones Spoings and the ones hanging from webs Spranglers.
The grounded Scuttle Bugs are orange and will only attack by jumping into the air and floating there for several seconds before falling back to the ground in hopes of landing on Mario. The kind that hangs from ceilings is purple and will swing back and forth on their threads like a pendulum in an attempt to damage the player. The grounded ones could be simply defeated by jumping on them or Spinning them, and the ones that hang from ceilings could be defeated by jumping on them or with two Spins. They would give a Coin or three Star Bits depending in how they are defeated.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Scuttle Bugs reappear in Super Mario Galaxy 2, with the same appearance and behavior from the prequel. However, unlike the prequel, they are rarer, only appearing in a few galaxies. They appeared in Yoshi Star Galaxy, Tall Trunk Galaxy, and Flip-Out Galaxy.
New Super Mario Bros. 2
Scuttle Bugs are set to appear in the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. 2. A screenshot from the game shows them hanging off of webs, like with their New Super Mario Bros. incarnations. However, their appearances have changed; instead of being yellow with three black stripes and having black heads, they will be yellow with two purple stripes and heads, as well has having white pincers.
Mario Party series
Mario Party 7
In the Mario Party 7 minigame Spider Stomp, Scuttle Bugs appear, along with their probable ruler, a big Scuttle Bug. The red Hop-O-Matic 4000 resembles a Scuttlebug.
Mario Party DS
Scuttle Bugs appear also in Mario Party DS. It appears in only one minigame: a 2-Vs.-2 minigame named Crazy Crosshairs. Both teams must hit the Scuttle Bugs with some toy tanks on a spiderweb. This minigame also intruduce Gold Scuttle Bugs, gaving the team 3 points instead of one if hit. In the same game, you can win a Scuttle Bug Rival Badge and a Scuttle Bug Trophy by getting MP Points, and look at them in Gallery Mode. But here, strangely, the character figure information on the Scuttle Bug refers to the Plunger-like feet as shoes.
