MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Drift (Cyberverse)

2019-02-16T22:46:04Z

Starwis:

{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{disambigm|Drift (disambiguation)|Deadlock (disambiguation)}}
:''Drift is a [[Decepticon]] and later an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:CyberverseDrift.jpg|thumb|250px|"The dragon is sated."]]
'''Drift''' was once a Decepticon named '''Deadlock''', but it didn't take long after the launch of [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s revolution for him to realise that he didn't fit in with the Decepticons. He believed in a more honorable lifestyle than the sort his fellow 'Cons preferred, and so, given a chance, he jumped at the opportunity to make his own path. Now he has a new name and a new purpose in life as part of the Autobot cause.

==Fiction==
===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[File:Cyberverse - Sabotage - Ratchet and Drift celebrate.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"With every death, comes honor. With honor, redemption."]]
Early in the [[Great War (Cyberverse)|Great War]], Deadlock, wishing to defect from the Decepticons, was brought to [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's]] by [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]], who needed to find [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] to get his new friend to safety. Unfortunately, news of Deadlock's defection had reached [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]] who personally followed them to the bar and intended to use Deadlock as an example to others. Before the tyrant could slay the traitor, [[Maccadam]] intervened and demanded that there would be no fighting in ''his'' bar. After Megatron stormed out, Maccadam told Deadlock that he was welcome to stay in the bar as a refuge for as long as he needed. {{storylink|Maccadam's}}

In a memory manipulated by [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]], Drift,
[https://mobile.twitter.com/gavinhignight/status/1057865243399938048?p=v] was present at [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus']] announcement where the [[AllSpark]] was found near the ''[[Ark (Cyberverse)|Ark]]'' and cheered on with the rest of the crew. {{storylink|Sabotage}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Cyberverse===
[[File:Cyberverse-Warrior-Deadlock.jpg|thumb|250px]]
*'''Deadlock''' (Warrior Class, [[2019]])
**''Action Attack'': ???
:''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' Warrior Class Deadlock is a Deluxe-size mold that converts from robot into a sports car. His Action Attack feature consists of flip-out blades on his forearms, activated in robot mode. While he has the correct colors, the white and purple appear to be swapped if compared to the cartoon model.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Deadlock's design is based on a [https://www.deviantart.com/guidoguidi/art/Retro-G1-Deadlock-model-sheet-526900626 fan design] (itself based on [[Springer (G1)|G1 Springer]]) by [[Guido Guidi]] - though there are some differences, like the placement of the Decepticon sigil and the cockpit of the alt-mode on his chest.

[[Category:Cyberverse Decepticons]]
[[Category:Cyberverse Autobots]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Insecticon (WFC)

2019-02-16T22:45:18Z

Starwis:

{{factions|decepticon|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Insecticon}}
:''The Insecticons are [[Transformer]]s from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:FOCInsecticon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Michael Bay]]'s ''A Bug's Life''.]]

Denizens of the under levels of Cybertron, the '''Insecticons''' live in destructive swarms. Ravenous and aggressive, Insecticons can digest 95% of known matter, reshaping their findings into enormous subterrannean hives. Existing as a near hive mind, they represent a deadly and invaluable resource for those willing to find a way to tame them.

Insecticons have the unique ability to clone themselves, but each successive clone is inferior to its progenitor, leading to increasingly bestial creatures. Some types are capable of assuming bipedal [[robot mode]]s, and a further few seem to be fully intelligent individuals.

Since most of their number are basically animals, Insecticons respond best to displays of power, and their swarms are normally dominated by the smartest and strongest among them. Nevertheless, a sufficiently firm hand or assertion of command from a non-Insecticon may gain control as well, as with the groups controlled by [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and [[Lockdown (Adventure)|Lockdown]].

The earliest known named Insecticons include:

* [[Hardshell]]
* [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]]
* [[Sharpshot]]

Among the other named members of the species are:

* [[Barrage (Prime)|Barrage]]
* [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]]
* [[Buzzclaw (RID)|Buzzclaw]]
* [[Infernox]]
* [[Needler (RID)|Needler]]
* [[Ransack (RID Insecticon)|Ransack]]
* [[Razorhorn]]
* [[Scorpinok (RID)|Scorpinok]]
* [[Skrapnel (RID)|Skrapnel]]
* [[Springbolt]]
* [[Waspinator (RID)|Waspinator]]

In addition, there are countless types of Insecticon drone, each adapted to a specific role. Some of these are:

* [[Bombshell (Adventure)|Bombshells]]
* [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]]
* [[Shrapnel (Adventure)|Shrapnels]]
* [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]]
* [[Insecticon Swarmer|Swarmers]]

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] experimented on three specimens, optimizing them for battle in the gladiatorial arenas of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] by turning them into [[combiner]]s—something that disgusted the gladiator [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatronus]]. They were primitive to the point of barely possessing a sentient consciousness, but surprisingly capable fighters. The way they moved together gave away their nature as combiners even when separate. Even with one of their number dead, the remaining two could combine into a hovering attack mode.

The trio competed in the [[gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial]] [[Tournament of Champions]] when they encountered Megatronus. He allowed them to [[trans-scan|scan]] a vehicle form before attacking. One emerged from a scrapheap as an all-terrain vehicle with magnetic studded tracks and sought a vantage point on the combat pit's wall, while another sprayed acid on Megatronus's shoulder. Megatronus caught the third Insecticon's multiple, vibrobladed hands and tore an arm off, flinging it into the audience and causing havoc.

Taking fire from the other two, Megatronus made the wounded Insecticon fire his own ion cannon into its neck, killing it in an attempt to ensure there would be no combination. He then slammed the acid-spitter to the floor, but it wriggled away and managed to combine with the ATV, wiring itself into girders while blasting and spitting acid at the gladiator. Megatronus transformed and blasted them, before pinning them down in [[robot mode]] and smashing them to pieces with two [[energon mace|maces]]. Megatronus roared "I still function!", as the crowd began chanting a shortened version of his name: Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

In the period after the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' and ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' had left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Shockwave commanded Insecticon soldiers, which [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] feared would be sent to capture the [[Hall of Records]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Sure enough, Alpha Trion's neutrality was finally ignored when Shockwave had him arrested. The Insecticons served as guards for Shockwave as he attempted to hack [[Vector Sigma]] using Alpha Trion's circuitry. When the [[Wrecker]]s arrived to stop Shockwave, the Insecticons confronted the Autobots long enough for Shockwave to escape. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

===IDW Aligned comics===
Shockwave discovered the Insecticons in the depths of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and was able to turn them into Decepticons, believing the warrior race to be the key to winning the war. By altering their already mutated forms, he was able to make the Insecticons loyal to him, and ready to aid the Decepticon empire in broadening its reach beyond Cybertron. {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}} Shockwave had a number of the creatures capture a spying [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] in order to lure the rest of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] to his base. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} When the Autobot team arrived, they too were overwhelmed by a swarm of Insecticons, {{storylink|Siege Mentality}} {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} and though [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] was able to fight them off, he was defeated by Shockwave and his team was captured. The swarm carted the Lightning Strike Coalition off to Shockwave's laboratory so the prisoners could be experimented upon. {{storylink|Last Stand}}

Many Insecticons were left on Cybertron as it was largely abandoned during the war, remaining a constant threat to the few surviving Autobots. When an unseen assailant began murdering people in [[Last Spark]], [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] suspected the Insecticons had turned to cannibalism and investigated Kickback's lair, where they found corpses of [[Forged]], another faction created by Shockwave. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}} While fighting the two, Kickback denied their accusation, claiming the Insecticons had killed the Forged for trying to eat ''them''. Though the Insecticons were proven innocent of this particular crime, Sludge still killed Kickback just in case. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]], [[Steve Blum|Steven Blum]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], [[James Horan]] (English), [[Kensō Katō]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Prime-insecticon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Who thinks they can squash me like a bug?]]
An Insecticon was left in stasis on Cybertron, acting as a Decepticon sentry. It was awakened by [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s arrival in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], and began pursuing them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} As they used the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to reveal a hidden passage under the city's arena, the Insecticon attacked. Arcee attempted to distract it so that Jack could escape into the newly revealed entrance, but she was soundly beaten when it slammed her into the arena wall. The Insecticon then tracked Jack to [[Vector Sigma]], but was horrified to see the supercomputer covered in [[scraplet]]s. Jack hurled one of the scraplets at the Insecticon so that they would stop feeding on Vector Sigma, and the rest of the swarm followed it in attacking the larger beast-bot. The Insecticon was savaged, falling off the bridge into a chasm as it was eaten alive. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

[[File:Crossfire Megatron and Insecticon close together.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Megatron put Eradicating Aerosol in his deck for just such an occasion.]]
When [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] was seeking Energon scraps in an old mine, he noticed an Insecticon doing the same, and was surprised that one was on [[Earth]]. Starscream demanded that the Insecticon hand over the Energon it had found, though it instead turned on him and attacked, before [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] called it off. Airachnid had managed to control it, due to their being related. Though Starscream suggested that they all team up to end [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Airachnid instead ordered the Insecticon to attack him, however he escaped. Sometime later, the Insecticon attacked Megatron as part of Airachnid's trap, refusing to obey him instead. The Insecticon had the upper hand on the Decepticon leader, particularly when Airachnid removed his fusion cannon from the equation, however Megatron eventually triumphed as he beheaded the Insecticon. However, as the escaped Airachnid discovered, it was only a scout for an entire hive of Insecticons in stasis underground. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

[[File:Armada-armadasurroundMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|We're going to need a bigger ship.]]
Airachnid awoke the Insecticons after detecting a signal from the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', and sent most of them to terminate Megatron, while others attempted to protect her from the Autobots who arrived to see what was happening. While [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] eliminated the Insecticons attacking them, Arcee chased down Airachnid and put her in stasis. At that point her control of the Insecticons ceased, and those attacking the ''Nemesis'' stopped and proclaimed their loyalty to Megatron. Then, the ''Nemesis'' crashed for [[Bulkhead (Prime)|some reason]]. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

Now added to the Decepticon ranks, the Insecticons were free to move about the ship. After Megatron used [[Dark Energon]] to bring the ship back online but as a consequence the ship started making its own decisions, Megatron then sent all of the ship's crew, including the Insecticons, to stop the ''Nemesis''. They failed and were stasis locked by the ''Nemesis'''s stasis cannon sweep of the ship. They started recovering after Jack disabled the ship's Dark Energon influence. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

A single Insecticon went with [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to watch over the medic as they searched for one of the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] relics in the [[New York City|Manhattan]] subway. When Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] turned up, it easily brought them down. But soon they started fighting back, and the Insecticon pursued Arcee down the tunnel, and eventually the two began clashing. The Insecticon had the upper hand until she managed to get it to come into contact with the electrified third rail on the subway track, frying it. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}}

[[File:HardshellTeaser.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|"These scars? They make [[Grimlock (Animated)|Me Hardshell]] [[David Kaye|badass]]."]]

Megatron entered the chamber occupied by the Insecticons and asked for the fiercest among them to retrieve the fourth Iacon relic. [[Hardshell]] led three other Insecticons to the Earth's equator, and Hardshell's first fight with Bulkhead resulted in defeat. As they continued their mission, one of the Insecticons fell prey to a grenade and some [[Tox-En]]. Hardshell and the others were mislead by a false trail left by Bulkhead, but eventually caught up with the Wrecker at the top of a nearby volcano. He managed to acquit himself well against the trio, finishing off one Insecticon and throwing Hardshell and the Tox-En into the volcano. Hardshell survived his swim and shot Bulkhead in the back as the Autobot was retreating through the [[GroundBridge]]. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

Megatron was unhappy with the results of the mission and the Insecticons faced hostility from Knock Out and the Vehicons, eventually resulting in a brawl aboard the ''Nemesis''. Hardshell was dispatched to deal with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] and almost bested his foe, until [[Miko Nakadai]] killed him using the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons systems. The rest of the Insecticons pursued the ship, only stopping when Wheeljack threw a bag of grenades at them. The survivors dragged Hardshell's corpse back to the Decepticon warship to report his failure. {{storylink|Hurt}}

Some Vehicons and Insecticons were sent to investigate a crashed Decepticon escape pod. Those that weren't killed by the Autobots perished when the pod exploded. {{storylink|New Recruit}} A few Insecticons were used as muscle when the Decepticons were digging up another Iacon relic, and lifted heavy rocks in their insect modes. They subsequently fought the Autobots and chased Jack around. {{storylink|Legacy (episode)|Legacy}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] phased through an Insecticon while escaping the ''Nemesis'', much to its surprise. {{storylink|Inside Job}} The Insecticons took part in the attack on the Autobot base, though they dropped like flies during the battle. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

After the destruction of the Autobots’ base, several Insecticons helped shift through the rubble to unearth whatever Autobot corpses Megatron hoped to find there. They were unsuccessful. Later, they helped look for the Iacon artifacts left behind on Cybertron during the battle for the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}}

A number of Insecticons arrived at an energon mine reported to be under attack, but encountered only confused [[Decepticon Miner|miners]]. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} A half-dozen Insecticons, including [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]], were sent to a cavern to find [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. Though they successfully find a Predacon skull, Optimus Prime arrived and slaughtered most of them, with only Bombshock escaping with one of the Predacon's horns. {{storylink|Project Predacon}} Four Insecticons were dispatched to help Knock Out against Arcee and Wheeljack. They died. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}}

As a plague began to spread through the ship, the Insecticons joined in eradicating the sufferers, at least until Airachnid was brought back online. She soon retook mental control of them and instructed them to destroy all of the Decepticons, however she and the Insecticons were transported to one of Cybertron's moons by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]. There, the plague took hold of Airachnid, and she began feeding on the Insecticons. {{storylink|Thirst}}

===Titan ''Prime'' comic===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.20|Starscream's Beast}}}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
An Insecticon was among [[Glowstrike]] and [[Scorponok (WFC)|Scorponok]]'s crew of ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' escapees. {{storylink|Metal Meltdown}} Another, [[Razorhorn]], worked as a bounty hunter alongside [[Shadelock]] and [[RoughEdge]], employed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] to track down the [[Weaponizer]]s. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} He eventually ran afoul of the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] and was shipped back to Cybertron on [[Prime Force One]] as a prisoner. {{storylink|Worthy}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' bios===
[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] once webbed [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] to the floor so that an Insecticon could tickle her. {{storylink|Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid's bio}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Insecticon was hanging on a wall near a battle between [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Beautiful Flower Has Thorns? Temptation of the Female Soldier, Airachnid!}}

==Commercial appearances==
One of the Insecticons had direct orders from Megatron to send whoever put Christmas lights on the ''Nemesis'' to the North Pole. He and two of his fellow Insecticons walked right past the two Vehicons responsible. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime#Holiday Schmoliday|30-Second Holiday Special: "Decepticon Holidays: Holiday Schmoliday"}}

==Games==
===''Rise of the Dark Spark''===
Insecticons were shown to had infested the deep underlevels of Cybertron where they were said to be a primitive society where the vast majority followed the strong leaders. Thus, when these stronger Insecticons were present, they deferred to their orders otherwise they would attack any foe that entered their lairs. Megatron dispatched Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream to the vaults that were rumored to hold the mythical relic known as the [[Dark Spark]]. This saw them for the first time encountering the Insecticons where Shockwave managed to best their leaders namely Hardshell, Kickback and Sharpshot. As a result, the trio joined the ranks of the Decepticons and brought their fellow Insecticons into the fold. However, Shockwave commented that the dominance based Insecticons would only be allies so long as they followed their leaders and if said leaders were not present then they could just as likely turn on the Decepticons. When the Autobots Ironhide and Sideswipe recovered the Dark Spark, they attempted to flee with it where they fought off swarms of Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark (console)}}

===''Fall of Cybertron''===
[[File:FOC Grimlock vs Insecticons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Me Grimlock say I squash you like bug.]]

When Cybertron's core shut down to purge itself of the [[Dark Energon]] corruption, the Insecticons and other creatures of the depths were left deprived of sustenance. With nowhere else to go, the swarms began migrating to the surface, where they came into contact with the Autobots and Decepticons. Shockwave continued his experiments using Insecticons as test subjects, creating new breeds such as [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]], combining Autobot source code with Insecticon physiology, and [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]], which were based on alien insects viewed through the space bridge. The Insecticons served under Shockwave during the last days of the war on Cybertron, particularly after the loss of Megatron and the half-baked rise of Starscream. The majority of Insecticons were easily controlled and guided by Shockwave. The trio of Kickback, Sharpshot and Hardshell were intelligent enough to think for themselves and potentially guide the Insecticon swarms in a new direction, so Shockwave deliberately courted their favor.

[[File:FOC-Jazzvsinsecticons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|When did video games become so violent and scary?!]]

When Grimlock and the rest of his squadron crash-landed in the Sea of Rust, they encountered a large Insecticon nest. Though they fought, they were overrun and abducted by Shockwave for experiments. Though Grimlock, Swoop, Slug, and Snarl survived, Sludge was not so fortunate and was left behind in stasis lock. Not long afterwards, [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] entered the same hive and discovered Sludge's body, and also encountered Insecticons as he attempted to escape.

After the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobot]] experiments, Shockwave employed the Insecticons to test [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and his new skills. Hardshell used a massive battle mech to push Grimlock to his limits, Kickback taunted Grimlock in a game of turbofox-and-cybermouse through several conflicts, and Sharpshot tortured [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] with his electrical equipment while taunting Grimlock into responding. Unfortunately for the Insecticons, Shockwave's work was a success and the Dinobots tore through their defenses, killing Sharpshot, Kickback, and countless numbers of lesser Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game'' ===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English)}}
[[File:Insecticons PrimeTheGame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After Arcee fell from orbit and crashed outside Jasper, Nevada, Airachnid sent a swarm of Insecticons to terminate her. Arcee managed to kill the entire swarm before facing Airachnid herself.

Later, while fighting onto the ''Nemesis'', Airachnid sent a few more Insecticons after Arcee. They were also dispatched with ease. However, the distraction they caused allowed Airachnid to escape.
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}

{{-}}

=== ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' mobile app ===
A number of Insecticons were imprisoned on the Autobot ship ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'', and they and their stasis pods scattered across the countryside when the ship wrecked on [[Earth]]. When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] freed Barrage and his [[Mini-Con]] partner Needler, they were able to turn their stasis pod into a duplication machine. Steeljaw and Barrage quickly used the machine to transform a group of Insecticon criminals into a multitudinous army. The Decepticons attempted to use this army to assemble a [[space bridge]] with which to return to Cybertron, but [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and his team of Autobots were able to defeat the Insecticons and return them, including Barrage, to stasis. {{storylink|Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game}}

== Toys ==
===Generations===
[[File:Kickback foc toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Kickback''' (Deluxe Class, 2012)
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 012'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG08'''
**''Accessories:'' "Disc launcher", disc projectile, insect wings/twin battle blades

: ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Kickback is part of the third wave of 2012 ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, and transforms into a Cybertronian insect somewhat resembling a grasshopper. He comes with wings which double as blades, and a disc launcher which looks like a [[Gear Shredder]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/FOCKickback/kickback.htm More information on Kickback at TFU.info]''

{{--}}
===Kre-O===
[[File:KreO-Toy InsecticonKreon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Kre-O Planking grand champion]]
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012)
**''Bag number'': '''22851 46'''
**''Accessories'': Logo brick, horn-blade

: Part of the first normal wave of [[Micro-Changer]] [[Kreon]]s, Insecticon is a [[blindpacking|blindpacked]]-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra bits including legs so he can lie on his tummy and look like some sort of insect.

:Though the toy proper has a Decepticon [[insignia]], his [[instructions]] label him with the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] symbol.

{{-}}{{Anchor|2016}}
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
**''Collection'': '''1'''
**''Accessories'': Logo plate, horn-blade

:In 2016, Collection 1 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released ''Kre-O'' sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Insecticon's torso [[tampograph]] has also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them.

:Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.

{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
[[File:TF-Prime-Beast-Hunters-Commander-Class-Hardshell.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
*'''Hardshell''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2013)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]: [[Beast Hunters (toyline)|Beast Hunters]]'' [[Cyberverse (toyline)#Series 2|Cyberverse]] Commander Class toys. Though packaged as Hardshell, the figure lacks the scars/warpaint that differentiate him from his nameless brethren, and so could easily be army-built.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/Hardshell/hardshell.htm More information on Hardshell at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:PrimeBH-PredaconsRising-toy-Cyberverse-Bombshock.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
* '''Bombshock & Shockwave ''' (Commander 2-pack)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, missile

: A [[redeco]] of [[Hardshell#Toys|Hardshell]], Bombshock transforms into a robotic horned beetle. For some reason, he's branded with a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[insignia|faction symbol]]. His missile launcher, which can be mounted on his back in beetle mode, fires its projectile via pressure-launch. Bombshock was only available as part of a "[[Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising|Predacons Rising]]" Commander Class 2-pack with [[Shockwave (WFC)#Cyberverse2pack|Shockwave]], which, as a second [[wave]] ''Predacons Rising'' release, was only available as a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] in the United States (and not in Canada, Australia or Europe), even though it was used in official advertising by BigW in Australia (who ultimately only stocked the wave 1 [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Target2pack|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Predaking (Prime)#Target2pack|Predaking]] two-pack).

:Curiously, like all ''Predacons Rising'' multi-packs featuring redecoed ''Cyberverse'' figures, this set doesn't identify the figures as ''Cyberverse'' products anywhere on the [[packaging]].

:As shown by an official [[stock photography|stock photo]],<ref name="targetlisting">[http://www.target.com/p/transformers-predacons-command-shockwave-figure/-/A-14575734 Target listing] for the Shockwave/Bombshock set, depicting the packaging with mixed up names.</ref> the packaging in its original presentation featured the name "Shockwave" in front of Bombshock, who is placed on the left, and "Bombshock" in front of Shockwave, who is placed on the right. By the time the two-pack hit stores, this was remedied by stickers with the correct names covering up the wrong ones. However, the side panels retain the old names and the "wrong" set of tech specs.<ref name="stickers">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/953415-predacon-rising-bombshock-shockwave-found.html "Predacon Rising Bombshock and Shockwave found"] thread at TFW2005, showing the stickers.</ref>

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Predacon/Bombshock/bombshock.htm More information on Bombshock at TFU.info]''

===Adventure===
*'''Shrapnel''' ([[2015]]-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV17'''
:Shrapnel is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Shrapnel (G1)#Generations|Skrapnel]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a stag beetle.

*'''Bombshell''' (2015-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV18'''
:Bombshell is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Bombshell (G1)#Generations|Bombshell]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a Japanese rhinoceros beetle.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Thrilling 30===
*'''Insecticon''' (Collectible Figurine, 2014)
**''Series / Number:'' '''2 / #25'''
**''Accessories:'' Collector's base
:A super-deformed Insecticon was released among the blindpacked [[Thrilling 30#Collectible Figurines|''Thrilling 30'' Collectible Figurines]] by [[Goldie Marketing]]. He comes with a base to help him stand, a collector's card that doubles as a puzzle piece, and a checklist.

*'''Collectible Figurines''' (5-pack, 2014)
**''Series:'' '''2'''
**''Accessories:'' 5 collector's bases
:The same Insecticon figurine was also available in a 5-pack alongside [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#Thrilling 30|Bumblebee]], [[Shockwave (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Shockwave]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Wheeljack]] and [[Soundwave (WFC)#Thrilling 30|Soundwave]].

{{--}}

==Notes==
*In the Japanese dub, the Insecticons are quite the Chatty Cathies. Voiced by [[Kensō Katō]], their numerous comedic asides recall his performances as ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspeeter]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Wasp]]inator.
*The ''Prime'' Insecticon design was used in the [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More Than Meets the Eye'' comic book]] as a generic member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s.
*In the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon, the sound an Insecticon makes is changed. Rather than a high pitched squeal like in ''Prime'', it is now a more low pitched roar.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Insecticon''' (インセクティコン ''Insekutikon'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Insecticons| Insecticon (WFC)]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Predacons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) subgroups]]

Drift (Cyberverse)

2019-02-16T22:23:03Z

Starwis:

{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{disambigm|Drift (disambiguation)|Deadlock (disambiguation)}}
:''Drift is a [[Decepticon]] and later an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:CyberverseDrift.jpg|thumb|250px|"The dragon is sated."]]
'''Drift''' was once a Decepticon named '''Deadlock''', but it didn't take long after the launch of [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s revolution for him to realise that he didn't fit in with the Decepticons. He believed in a more honorable lifestyle than the sort his fellow 'Cons preferred, and so, given a chance, he jumped at the opportunity to make his own path. Now he has a new name and a new purpose in life as part of the Autobot cause.

==Fiction==
===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[File:Cyberverse - Sabotage - Ratchet and Drift celebrate.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"With every death, comes honor. With honor, redemption."]]
Early in the [[Great War (Cyberverse)|Great War]], Deadlock, wishing to defect from the Decepticons, was brought to [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's]] by [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]], who needed to find [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] to get his new friend to safety. Unfortunately, news of Deadlock's defection had reached [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]] who personally followed them to the bar and intended to use Deadlock as an example to others. Before the tyrant could slay the traitor, [[Maccadam]] intervened and demanded that there would be no fighting in ''his'' bar. After Megatron stormed out, Maccadam told Deadlock that he was welcome to stay in the bar as a refuge for as long as he needed. {{storylink|Maccadam's}}

In a memory manipulated by [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]], Drift,
[https://mobile.twitter.com/gavinhignight/status/1057865243399938048?p=v] was present at [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus']] announcement where the [[AllSpark]] was found near the ''[[Ark (Cyberverse)|Ark]]'' and cheered on with the rest of the crew. {{storylink|Sabotage}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Cyberverse===
[[File:Cyberverse-Warrior-Deadlock.jpg|thumb|250px|Whyyyyyyyyyy]]
*'''Deadlock''' (Warrior Class, [[2019]])
**''Action Attack'': ???
:''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' Warrior Class Deadlock is a Deluxe-size mold that converts from robot into a sports car. His Action Attack feature consists of flip-out blades on his forearms, activated in robot mode. While he has the correct colors, the white and purple appear to be swapped if compared to the cartoon model.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Deadlock's design is based on a [https://www.deviantart.com/guidoguidi/art/Retro-G1-Deadlock-model-sheet-526900626 fan design] (itself based on [[Springer (G1)|G1 Springer]]) by [[Guido Guidi]] - though there are some differences, like the placement of the Decepticon sigil and the cockpit of the alt-mode on his chest.

[[Category:Cyberverse Decepticons]]
[[Category:Cyberverse Autobots]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Insecticon (WFC)

2019-02-16T22:08:37Z

Starwis:

{{factions|decepticon|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Insecticon}}
:''The Insecticons are [[Transformer]]s from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:FOCInsecticon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Michael Bay]]'s ''A Bug's Life''.]]

Denizens of the under levels of Cybertron, the '''Insecticons''' live in destructive swarms. Ravenous and aggressive, Insecticons can digest 95% of known matter, reshaping their findings into enormous subterrannean hives. Existing as a near hive mind, they represent a deadly and invaluable resource for those willing to find a way to tame them.

Insecticons have the unique ability to clone themselves, but each successive clone is inferior to its progenitor, leading to increasingly bestial creatures. Some types are capable of assuming bipedal [[robot mode]]s, and a further few seem to be fully intelligent individuals.

Since most of their number are basically animals, Insecticons respond best to displays of power, and their swarms are normally dominated by the smartest and strongest among them. Nevertheless, a sufficiently firm hand or assertion of command from a non-Insecticon may gain control as well, as with the groups controlled by [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and [[Lockdown (Adventure)|Lockdown]].

The earliest known named Insecticons include:

* [[Hardshell]]
* [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]]
* [[Sharpshot]]

Among the other named members of the species are:

* [[Barrage (Prime)|Barrage]]
* [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]]
* [[Buzzclaw (RID)|Buzzclaw]]
* [[Infernox]]
* [[Needler (RID)|Needler]]
* [[Ransack (RID Insecticon)|Ransack]]
* [[Razorhorn]]
* [[Scorpinok (RID)|Scorpinok]]
* [[Skrapnel (RID)|Skrapnel]]
* [[Springbolt]]
* [[Waspinator (RID)|Waspinator]]

In addition, there are countless types of Insecticon drone, each adapted to a specific role. Some of these are:

* [[Bombshell (Adventure)|Bombshells]]
* [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]]
* [[Shrapnel (Adventure)|Shrapnels]]
* [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]]
* [[Insecticon Swarmer|Swarmers]]

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] experimented on three specimens, optimizing them for battle in the gladiatorial arenas of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] by turning them into [[combiner]]s—something that disgusted the gladiator [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatronus]]. They were primitive to the point of barely possessing a sentient consciousness, but surprisingly capable fighters. The way they moved together gave away their nature as combiners even when separate. Even with one of their number dead, the remaining two could combine into a hovering attack mode.

The trio competed in the [[gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial]] [[Tournament of Champions]] when they encountered Megatronus. He allowed them to [[trans-scan|scan]] a vehicle form before attacking. One emerged from a scrapheap as an all-terrain vehicle with magnetic studded tracks and sought a vantage point on the combat pit's wall, while another sprayed acid on Megatronus's shoulder. Megatronus caught the third Insecticon's multiple, vibrobladed hands and tore an arm off, flinging it into the audience and causing havoc.

Taking fire from the other two, Megatronus made the wounded Insecticon fire his own ion cannon into its neck, killing it in an attempt to ensure there would be no combination. He then slammed the acid-spitter to the floor, but it wriggled away and managed to combine with the ATV, wiring itself into girders while blasting and spitting acid at the gladiator. Megatronus transformed and blasted them, before pinning them down in [[robot mode]] and smashing them to pieces with two [[energon mace|maces]]. Megatronus roared "I still function!", as the crowd began chanting a shortened version of his name: Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

In the period after the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' and ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' had left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Shockwave commanded Insecticon soldiers, which [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] feared would be sent to capture the [[Hall of Records]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Sure enough, Alpha Trion's neutrality was finally ignored when Shockwave had him arrested. The Insecticons served as guards for Shockwave as he attempted to hack [[Vector Sigma]] using Alpha Trion's circuitry. When the [[Wrecker]]s arrived to stop Shockwave, the Insecticons confronted the Autobots long enough for Shockwave to escape. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

===IDW Aligned comics===
Shockwave discovered the Insecticons in the depths of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and was able to turn them into Decepticons, believing the warrior race to be the key to winning the war. By altering their already mutated forms, he was able to make the Insecticons loyal to him, and ready to aid the Decepticon empire in broadening its reach beyond Cybertron. {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}} Shockwave had a number of the creatures capture a spying [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] in order to lure the rest of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] to his base. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} When the Autobot team arrived, they too were overwhelmed by a swarm of Insecticons, {{storylink|Siege Mentality}} {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} and though [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] was able to fight them off, he was defeated by Shockwave and his team was captured. The swarm carted the Lightning Strike Coalition off to Shockwave's laboratory so the prisoners could be experimented upon. {{storylink|Last Stand}}

Many Insecticons were left on Cybertron as it was largely abandoned during the war, remaining a constant threat to the few surviving Autobots. When an unseen assailant began murdering people in [[Last Spark]], [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] suspected the Insecticons had turned to cannibalism and investigated Kickback's lair, where they found corpses of [[Forged]], another faction created by Shockwave. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}} While fighting the two, Kickback denied their accusation, claiming the Insecticons had killed the Forged for trying to eat ''them''. Though the Insecticons were proven innocent of this particular crime, Sludge still killed Kickback just in case. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]], [[Steve Blum|Steven Blum]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], [[James Horan]] (English), [[Kensō Katō]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Prime-insecticon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Who thinks they can squash me like a bug?]]
An Insecticon was left in stasis on Cybertron, acting as a Decepticon sentry. It was awakened by [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s arrival in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], and began pursuing them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} As they used the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to reveal a hidden passage under the city's arena, the Insecticon attacked. Arcee attempted to distract it so that Jack could escape into the newly revealed entrance, but she was soundly beaten when it slammed her into the arena wall. The Insecticon then tracked Jack to [[Vector Sigma]], but was horrified to see the supercomputer covered in [[scraplet]]s. Jack hurled one of the scraplets at the Insecticon so that they would stop feeding on Vector Sigma, and the rest of the swarm followed it in attacking the larger beast-bot. The Insecticon was savaged, falling off the bridge into a chasm as it was eaten alive. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

[[File:Crossfire Megatron and Insecticon close together.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Megatron put Eradicating Aerosol in his deck for just such an occasion.]]
When [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] was seeking Energon scraps in an old mine, he noticed an Insecticon doing the same, and was surprised that one was on [[Earth]]. Starscream demanded that the Insecticon hand over the Energon it had found, though it instead turned on him and attacked, before [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] called it off. Airachnid had managed to control it, due to their being related. Though Starscream suggested that they all team up to end [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Airachnid instead ordered the Insecticon to attack him, however he escaped. Sometime later, the Insecticon attacked Megatron as part of Airachnid's trap, refusing to obey him instead. The Insecticon had the upper hand on the Decepticon leader, particularly when Airachnid removed his fusion cannon from the equation, however Megatron eventually triumphed as he beheaded the Insecticon. However, as the escaped Airachnid discovered, it was only a scout for an entire hive of Insecticons in stasis underground. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

[[File:Armada-armadasurroundMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|We're going to need a bigger ship.]]
Airachnid awoke the Insecticons after detecting a signal from the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', and sent most of them to terminate Megatron, while others attempted to protect her from the Autobots who arrived to see what was happening. While [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] eliminated the Insecticons attacking them, Arcee chased down Airachnid and put her in stasis. At that point her control of the Insecticons ceased, and those attacking the ''Nemesis'' stopped and proclaimed their loyalty to Megatron. Then, the ''Nemesis'' crashed for [[Bulkhead (Prime)|some reason]]. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

Now added to the Decepticon ranks, the Insecticons were free to move about the ship. After Megatron used [[Dark Energon]] to bring the ship back online but as a consequence the ship started making its own decisions, Megatron then sent all of the ship's crew, including the Insecticons, to stop the ''Nemesis''. They failed and were stasis locked by the ''Nemesis'''s stasis cannon sweep of the ship. They started recovering after Jack disabled the ship's Dark Energon influence. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

A single Insecticon went with [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to watch over the medic as they searched for one of the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] relics in the [[New York City|Manhattan]] subway. When Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] turned up, it easily brought them down. But soon they started fighting back, and the Insecticon pursued Arcee down the tunnel, and eventually the two began clashing. The Insecticon had the upper hand until she managed to get it to come into contact with the electrified third rail on the subway track, frying it. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}}

[[File:HardshellTeaser.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|"These scars? They make [[Grimlock (Animated)|Me Hardshell]] [[David Kaye|badass]]."]]

Megatron entered the chamber occupied by the Insecticons and asked for the fiercest among them to retrieve the fourth Iacon relic. [[Hardshell]] led three other Insecticons to the Earth's equator, and Hardshell's first fight with Bulkhead resulted in defeat. As they continued their mission, one of the Insecticons fell prey to a grenade and some [[Tox-En]]. Hardshell and the others were mislead by a false trail left by Bulkhead, but eventually caught up with the Wrecker at the top of a nearby volcano. He managed to acquit himself well against the trio, finishing off one Insecticon and throwing Hardshell and the Tox-En into the volcano. Hardshell survived his swim and shot Bulkhead in the back as the Autobot was retreating through the [[GroundBridge]]. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

Megatron was unhappy with the results of the mission and the Insecticons faced hostility from Knock Out and the Vehicons, eventually resulting in a brawl aboard the ''Nemesis''. Hardshell was dispatched to deal with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] and almost bested his foe, until [[Miko Nakadai]] killed him using the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons systems. The rest of the Insecticons pursued the ship, only stopping when Wheeljack threw a bag of grenades at them. The survivors dragged Hardshell's corpse back to the Decepticon warship to report his failure. {{storylink|Hurt}}

Some Vehicons and Insecticons were sent to investigate a crashed Decepticon escape pod. Those that weren't killed by the Autobots perished when the pod exploded. {{storylink|New Recruit}} A few Insecticons were used as muscle when the Decepticons were digging up another Iacon relic, and lifted heavy rocks in their insect modes. They subsequently fought the Autobots and chased Jack around. {{storylink|Legacy (episode)|Legacy}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] phased through an Insecticon while escaping the ''Nemesis'', much to its surprise. {{storylink|Inside Job}} The Insecticons took part in the attack on the Autobot base, though they dropped like flies during the battle. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

After the destruction of the Autobots’ base, several Insecticons helped shift through the rubble to unearth whatever Autobot corpses Megatron hoped to find there. They were unsuccessful. Later, they helped look for the Iacon artifacts left behind on Cybertron during the battle for the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}}

A number of Insecticons arrived at an energon mine reported to be under attack, but encountered only confused [[Decepticon Miner|miners]]. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} A half-dozen Insecticons, including [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]], were sent to a cavern to find [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. Though they successfully find a Predacon skull, Optimus Prime arrived and slaughtered most of them, with only Bombshock escaping with one of the Predacon's horns. {{storylink|Project Predacon}} Four Insecticons were dispatched to help Knock Out against Arcee and Wheeljack. They died. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}}

As a plague began to spread through the ship, the Insecticons joined in eradicating the sufferers, at least until Airachnid was brought back online. She soon retook mental control of them and instructed them to destroy all of the Decepticons, however she and the Insecticons were transported to one of Cybertron's moons by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]. There, the plague took hold of Airachnid, and she began feeding on the Insecticons. {{storylink|Thirst}}

===Titan ''Prime'' comic===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.20|Starscream's Beast}}}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
An Insecticon was among [[Glowstrike]] and [[Scorponok (WFC)|Scorponok]]'s crew of ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' escapees. {{storylink|Metal Meltdown}} Another, [[Razorhorn]], worked as a bounty hunter alongside [[Shadelock]] and [[RoughEdge]], employed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] to track down the [[Weaponizer]]s. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} He eventually ran afoul of the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] and was shipped back to Cybertron on [[Prime Force One]] as a prisoner. {{storylink|Worthy}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' bios===
[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] once webbed [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] to the floor so that an Insecticon could tickle her. {{storylink|Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid's bio}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Insecticon was hanging on a wall near a battle between [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Beautiful Flower Has Thorns? Temptation of the Female Soldier, Airachnid!}}

==Commercial appearances==
One of the Insecticons had direct orders from Megatron to send whoever put Christmas lights on the ''Nemesis'' to the North Pole. He and two of his fellow Insecticons walked right past the two Vehicons responsible. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime#Holiday Schmoliday|30-Second Holiday Special: "Decepticon Holidays: Holiday Schmoliday"}}

==Games==
===''Rise of the Dark Spark''===
Insecticons were shown to had infested the deep underlevels of Cybertron where they were said to be a primitive society where the vast majority followed the strong leaders. Thus, when these stronger Insecticons were present, they deferred to their orders otherwise they would attack any foe that entered their lairs. Megatron dispatched Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream to the vaults that were rumored to hold the mythical relic known as the [[Dark Spark]]. This saw them for the first time encountering the Insecticons where Shockwave managed to best their leaders namely Hardshell, Kickback and Sharpshot. As a result, the trio joined the ranks of the Decepticons and brought their fellow Insecticons into the fold. However, Shockwave commented that the dominance based Insecticons would only be allies so long as they followed their leaders and if said leaders were not present then they could just as likely turn on the Decepticons. When the Autobots Ironhide and Sideswipe recovered the Dark Spark, they attempted to flee with it where they fought off swarms of Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark (console)}}

===''Fall of Cybertron''===
[[File:FOC Grimlock vs Insecticons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Me Grimlock say I squash you like bug.]]

When Cybertron's core shut down to purge itself of the [[Dark Energon]] corruption, the Insecticons and other creatures of the depths were left deprived of sustenance. With nowhere else to go, the swarms began migrating to the surface, where they came into contact with the Autobots and Decepticons. Shockwave continued his experiments using Insecticons as test subjects, creating new breeds such as [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]], combining Autobot source code with Insecticon physiology, and [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]], which were based on alien insects viewed through the space bridge. The Insecticons served under Shockwave during the last days of the war on Cybertron, particularly after the loss of Megatron and the half-baked rise of Starscream. The majority of Insecticons were easily controlled and guided by Shockwave. The trio of Kickback, Sharpshot and Hardshell were intelligent enough to think for themselves and potentially guide the Insecticon swarms in a new direction, so Shockwave deliberately courted their favor.

[[File:FOC-Jazzvsinsecticons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|When did video games become so violent and scary?!]]

When Grimlock and the rest of his squadron crash-landed in the Sea of Rust, they encountered a large Insecticon nest. Though they fought, they were overrun and abducted by Shockwave for experiments. Though Grimlock, Swoop, Slug, and Snarl survived, Sludge was not so fortunate and was left behind in stasis lock. Not long afterwards, [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] entered the same hive and discovered Sludge's body, and also encountered Insecticons as he attempted to escape.

After the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobot]] experiments, Shockwave employed the Insecticons to test [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and his new skills. Hardshell used a massive battle mech to push Grimlock to his limits, Kickback taunted Grimlock in a game of turbofox-and-cybermouse through several conflicts, and Sharpshot tortured [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] with his electrical equipment while taunting Grimlock into responding. Unfortunately for the Insecticons, Shockwave's work was a success and the Dinobots tore through their defenses, killing Sharpshot, Kickback, and countless numbers of lesser Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game'' ===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English)}}
[[File:Insecticons PrimeTheGame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After Arcee fell from orbit and crashed outside Jasper, Nevada, Airachnid sent a swarm of Insecticons to terminate her. Arcee managed to kill the entire swarm before facing Airachnid herself.

Later, while fighting onto the ''Nemesis'', Airachnid sent a few more Insecticons after Arcee. They were also dispatched with ease. However, the distraction they caused allowed Airachnid to escape.
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}

{{-}}

=== ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' mobile app ===
A number of Insecticons were imprisoned on the Autobot ship ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'', and they and their stasis pods scattered across the countryside when the ship wrecked on [[Earth]]. When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] freed Barrage and his [[Mini-Con]] partner Needler, they were able to turn their stasis pod into a duplication machine. Steeljaw and Barrage quickly used the machine to transform a group of Insecticon criminals into a multitudinous army. The Decepticons attempted to use this army to assemble a [[space bridge]] with which to return to Cybertron, but [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and his team of Autobots were able to defeat the Insecticons and return them, including Barrage, to stasis. {{storylink|Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game}}

== Toys ==
===Generations===
[[File:Kickback foc toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Kickback''' (Deluxe Class, 2012)
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 012'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG08'''
**''Accessories:'' "Disc launcher", disc projectile, insect wings/twin battle blades

: ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Kickback is part of the third wave of 2012 ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, and transforms into a Cybertronian insect somewhat resembling a grasshopper. He comes with wings which double as blades, and a disc launcher which looks like a [[Gear Shredder]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/FOCKickback/kickback.htm More information on Kickback at TFU.info]''

{{--}}
===Kre-O===
[[File:KreO-Toy InsecticonKreon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Kre-O Planking grand champion]]
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012)
**''Bag number'': '''22851 46'''
**''Accessories'': Logo brick, horn-blade

: Part of the first normal wave of [[Micro-Changer]] [[Kreon]]s, Insecticon is a [[blindpacking|blindpacked]]-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra bits including legs so he can lie on his tummy and look like some sort of insect.

:Though the toy proper has a Decepticon [[insignia]], his [[instructions]] label him with the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] symbol.

{{-}}{{Anchor|2016}}
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
**''Collection'': '''1'''
**''Accessories'': Logo plate, horn-blade

:In 2016, Collection 1 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released ''Kre-O'' sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Insecticon's torso [[tampograph]] has also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them.

:Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.

{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
[[File:TF-Prime-Beast-Hunters-Commander-Class-Hardshell.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
*'''Hardshell''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2013)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]: [[Beast Hunters (toyline)|Beast Hunters]]'' [[Cyberverse (toyline)#Series 2|Cyberverse]] Commander Class toys. Though packaged as Hardshell, the figure lacks the scars/warpaint that differentiate him from his nameless brethren, and so could easily be army-built.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/Hardshell/hardshell.htm More information on Hardshell at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:PrimeBH-PredaconsRising-toy-Cyberverse-Bombshock.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
* '''Bombshock & Shockwave ''' (Commander 2-pack)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, missile

: A [[redeco]] of [[Hardshell#Toys|Hardshell]], Bombshock transforms into a robotic horned beetle. For some reason, he's branded with a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[insignia|faction symbol]]. His missile launcher, which can be mounted on his back in beetle mode, fires its projectile via pressure-launch. Bombshock was only available as part of a "[[Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising|Predacons Rising]]" Commander Class 2-pack with [[Shockwave (WFC)#Cyberverse2pack|Shockwave]], which, as a second [[wave]] ''Predacons Rising'' release, was only available as a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] in the United States (and not in Canada, Australia or Europe), even though it was used in official advertising by BigW in Australia (who ultimately only stocked the wave 1 [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Target2pack|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Predaking (Prime)#Target2pack|Predaking]] two-pack).

:Curiously, like all ''Predacons Rising'' multi-packs featuring redecoed ''Cyberverse'' figures, this set doesn't identify the figures as ''Cyberverse'' products anywhere on the [[packaging]].

:As shown by an official [[stock photography|stock photo]],<ref name="targetlisting">[http://www.target.com/p/transformers-predacons-command-shockwave-figure/-/A-14575734 Target listing] for the Shockwave/Bombshock set, depicting the packaging with mixed up names.</ref> the packaging in its original presentation featured the name "Shockwave" in front of Bombshock, who is placed on the left, and "Bombshock" in front of Shockwave, who is placed on the right. By the time the two-pack hit stores, this was remedied by stickers with the correct names covering up the wrong ones. However, the side panels retain the old names and the "wrong" set of tech specs.<ref name="stickers">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/953415-predacon-rising-bombshock-shockwave-found.html "Predacon Rising Bombshock and Shockwave found"] thread at TFW2005, showing the stickers.</ref>

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Predacon/Bombshock/bombshock.htm More information on Bombshock at TFU.info]''

===Adventure===
*'''Shrapnel''' ([[2015]]-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV17'''
:Shrapnel is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Shrapnel (G1)#Generations|Skrapnel]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a stag beetle.

*'''Bombshell''' (2015-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV18'''
:Bombshell is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Bombshell (G1)#Generations|Bombshell]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a Japanese rhinoceros beetle.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Thrilling 30===
*'''Insecticon''' (Collectible Figurine, 2014)
**''Series / Number:'' '''2 / #25'''
**''Accessories:'' Collector's base
:A super-deformed Insecticon was released among the blindpacked [[Thrilling 30#Collectible Figurines|''Thrilling 30'' Collectible Figurines]] by [[Goldie Marketing]]. He comes with a base to help him stand, a collector's card that doubles as a puzzle piece, and a checklist.

*'''Collectible Figurines''' (5-pack, 2014)
**''Series:'' '''2'''
**''Accessories:'' 5 collector's bases
:The same Insecticon figurine was also available in a 5-pack alongside [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#Thrilling 30|Bumblebee]], [[Shockwave (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Shockwave]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Wheeljack]] and [[Soundwave (WFC)#Thrilling 30|Soundwave]].

{{--}}

==Notes==
*In the Japanese dub, the Insecticons are quite the Chatty Cathies. Voiced by [[Kensō Katō]], their numerous comedic asides recall his performances as ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspeeter]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Wasp]]inator.
*The ''Prime'' Insecticon design was used in the [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More Than Meets the Eye'' comic book]] as a generic member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s.
*In the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon, the sound an Insecticon makes is changed. Rather than a high pitched squeal like in ''Prime'', it is now a more low pitched roar.
*The insecticons seen in Fall of Cybertron are vastly different from the ones we see in Prime, the same thing can be said with the Robots in Disguise insecticons, as those have nothing to do with the FoC insecticons nor with the prime ones, it's hard to exactly tell if all those insecticons only fit into one group or if they are all different things, in the end we can only debate.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Insecticon''' (インセクティコン ''Insekutikon'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Insecticons| Insecticon (WFC)]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Predacons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) subgroups]]

Insecticon (WFC)

2019-02-16T22:07:40Z

Starwis:

{{factions|decepticon|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Insecticon}}
:''The Insecticons are [[Transformer]]s from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:FOCInsecticon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Michael Bay]]'s ''A Bug's Life''.]]

Denizens of the under levels of Cybertron, the '''Insecticons''' live in destructive swarms. Ravenous and aggressive, Insecticons can digest 95% of known matter, reshaping their findings into enormous subterrannean hives. Existing as a near hive mind, they represent a deadly and invaluable resource for those willing to find a way to tame them.

Insecticons have the unique ability to clone themselves, but each successive clone is inferior to its progenitor, leading to increasingly bestial creatures. Some types are capable of assuming bipedal [[robot mode]]s, and a further few seem to be fully intelligent individuals.

Since most of their number are basically animals, Insecticons respond best to displays of power, and their swarms are normally dominated by the smartest and strongest among them. Nevertheless, a sufficiently firm hand or assertion of command from a non-Insecticon may gain control as well, as with the groups controlled by [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and [[Lockdown (Adventure)|Lockdown]].

The earliest known named Insecticons include:

* [[Hardshell]]
* [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]]
* [[Sharpshot]]

Among the other named members of the species are:

* [[Barrage (Prime)|Barrage]]
* [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]]
* [[Buzzclaw (RID)|Buzzclaw]]
* [[Infernox]]
* [[Needler (RID)|Needler]]
* [[Ransack (RID Insecticon)|Ransack]]
* [[Razorhorn]]
* [[Scorpinok (RID)|Scorpinok]]
* [[Skrapnel (RID)|Skrapnel]]
* [[Springbolt]]
* [[Waspinator (RID)|Waspinator]]

In addition, there are countless types of Insecticon drone, each adapted to a specific role. Some of these are:

* [[Bombshell (Adventure)|Bombshells]]
* [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]]
* [[Shrapnel (Adventure)|Shrapnels]]
* [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]]
* [[Insecticon Swarmer|Swarmers]]

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] experimented on three specimens, optimizing them for battle in the gladiatorial arenas of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] by turning them into [[combiner]]s—something that disgusted the gladiator [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatronus]]. They were primitive to the point of barely possessing a sentient consciousness, but surprisingly capable fighters. The way they moved together gave away their nature as combiners even when separate. Even with one of their number dead, the remaining two could combine into a hovering attack mode.

The trio competed in the [[gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial]] [[Tournament of Champions]] when they encountered Megatronus. He allowed them to [[trans-scan|scan]] a vehicle form before attacking. One emerged from a scrapheap as an all-terrain vehicle with magnetic studded tracks and sought a vantage point on the combat pit's wall, while another sprayed acid on Megatronus's shoulder. Megatronus caught the third Insecticon's multiple, vibrobladed hands and tore an arm off, flinging it into the audience and causing havoc.

Taking fire from the other two, Megatronus made the wounded Insecticon fire his own ion cannon into its neck, killing it in an attempt to ensure there would be no combination. He then slammed the acid-spitter to the floor, but it wriggled away and managed to combine with the ATV, wiring itself into girders while blasting and spitting acid at the gladiator. Megatronus transformed and blasted them, before pinning them down in [[robot mode]] and smashing them to pieces with two [[energon mace|maces]]. Megatronus roared "I still function!", as the crowd began chanting a shortened version of his name: Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

In the period after the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' and ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' had left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Shockwave commanded Insecticon soldiers, which [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] feared would be sent to capture the [[Hall of Records]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Sure enough, Alpha Trion's neutrality was finally ignored when Shockwave had him arrested. The Insecticons served as guards for Shockwave as he attempted to hack [[Vector Sigma]] using Alpha Trion's circuitry. When the [[Wrecker]]s arrived to stop Shockwave, the Insecticons confronted the Autobots long enough for Shockwave to escape. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

===IDW Aligned comics===
Shockwave discovered the Insecticons in the depths of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and was able to turn them into Decepticons, believing the warrior race to be the key to winning the war. By altering their already mutated forms, he was able to make the Insecticons loyal to him, and ready to aid the Decepticon empire in broadening its reach beyond Cybertron. {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}} Shockwave had a number of the creatures capture a spying [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] in order to lure the rest of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] to his base. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} When the Autobot team arrived, they too were overwhelmed by a swarm of Insecticons, {{storylink|Siege Mentality}} {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} and though [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] was able to fight them off, he was defeated by Shockwave and his team was captured. The swarm carted the Lightning Strike Coalition off to Shockwave's laboratory so the prisoners could be experimented upon. {{storylink|Last Stand}}

Many Insecticons were left on Cybertron as it was largely abandoned during the war, remaining a constant threat to the few surviving Autobots. When an unseen assailant began murdering people in [[Last Spark]], [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] suspected the Insecticons had turned to cannibalism and investigated Kickback's lair, where they found corpses of [[Forged]], another faction created by Shockwave. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}} While fighting the two, Kickback denied their accusation, claiming the Insecticons had killed the Forged for trying to eat ''them''. Though the Insecticons were proven innocent of this particular crime, Sludge still killed Kickback just in case. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]], [[Steve Blum|Steven Blum]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], [[James Horan]] (English), [[Kensō Katō]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Prime-insecticon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Who thinks they can squash me like a bug?]]
An Insecticon was left in stasis on Cybertron, acting as a Decepticon sentry. It was awakened by [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s arrival in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], and began pursuing them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} As they used the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to reveal a hidden passage under the city's arena, the Insecticon attacked. Arcee attempted to distract it so that Jack could escape into the newly revealed entrance, but she was soundly beaten when it slammed her into the arena wall. The Insecticon then tracked Jack to [[Vector Sigma]], but was horrified to see the supercomputer covered in [[scraplet]]s. Jack hurled one of the scraplets at the Insecticon so that they would stop feeding on Vector Sigma, and the rest of the swarm followed it in attacking the larger beast-bot. The Insecticon was savaged, falling off the bridge into a chasm as it was eaten alive. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

[[File:Crossfire Megatron and Insecticon close together.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Megatron put Eradicating Aerosol in his deck for just such an occasion.]]
When [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] was seeking Energon scraps in an old mine, he noticed an Insecticon doing the same, and was surprised that one was on [[Earth]]. Starscream demanded that the Insecticon hand over the Energon it had found, though it instead turned on him and attacked, before [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] called it off. Airachnid had managed to control it, due to their being related. Though Starscream suggested that they all team up to end [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Airachnid instead ordered the Insecticon to attack him, however he escaped. Sometime later, the Insecticon attacked Megatron as part of Airachnid's trap, refusing to obey him instead. The Insecticon had the upper hand on the Decepticon leader, particularly when Airachnid removed his fusion cannon from the equation, however Megatron eventually triumphed as he beheaded the Insecticon. However, as the escaped Airachnid discovered, it was only a scout for an entire hive of Insecticons in stasis underground. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

[[File:Armada-armadasurroundMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|We're going to need a bigger ship.]]
Airachnid awoke the Insecticons after detecting a signal from the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', and sent most of them to terminate Megatron, while others attempted to protect her from the Autobots who arrived to see what was happening. While [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] eliminated the Insecticons attacking them, Arcee chased down Airachnid and put her in stasis. At that point her control of the Insecticons ceased, and those attacking the ''Nemesis'' stopped and proclaimed their loyalty to Megatron. Then, the ''Nemesis'' crashed for [[Bulkhead (Prime)|some reason]]. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

Now added to the Decepticon ranks, the Insecticons were free to move about the ship. After Megatron used [[Dark Energon]] to bring the ship back online but as a consequence the ship started making its own decisions, Megatron then sent all of the ship's crew, including the Insecticons, to stop the ''Nemesis''. They failed and were stasis locked by the ''Nemesis'''s stasis cannon sweep of the ship. They started recovering after Jack disabled the ship's Dark Energon influence. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

A single Insecticon went with [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to watch over the medic as they searched for one of the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] relics in the [[New York City|Manhattan]] subway. When Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] turned up, it easily brought them down. But soon they started fighting back, and the Insecticon pursued Arcee down the tunnel, and eventually the two began clashing. The Insecticon had the upper hand until she managed to get it to come into contact with the electrified third rail on the subway track, frying it. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}}

[[File:HardshellTeaser.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|"These scars? They make [[Grimlock (Animated)|Me Hardshell]] [[David Kaye|badass]]."]]

Megatron entered the chamber occupied by the Insecticons and asked for the fiercest among them to retrieve the fourth Iacon relic. [[Hardshell]] led three other Insecticons to the Earth's equator, and Hardshell's first fight with Bulkhead resulted in defeat. As they continued their mission, one of the Insecticons fell prey to a grenade and some [[Tox-En]]. Hardshell and the others were mislead by a false trail left by Bulkhead, but eventually caught up with the Wrecker at the top of a nearby volcano. He managed to acquit himself well against the trio, finishing off one Insecticon and throwing Hardshell and the Tox-En into the volcano. Hardshell survived his swim and shot Bulkhead in the back as the Autobot was retreating through the [[GroundBridge]]. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

Megatron was unhappy with the results of the mission and the Insecticons faced hostility from Knock Out and the Vehicons, eventually resulting in a brawl aboard the ''Nemesis''. Hardshell was dispatched to deal with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] and almost bested his foe, until [[Miko Nakadai]] killed him using the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons systems. The rest of the Insecticons pursued the ship, only stopping when Wheeljack threw a bag of grenades at them. The survivors dragged Hardshell's corpse back to the Decepticon warship to report his failure. {{storylink|Hurt}}

Some Vehicons and Insecticons were sent to investigate a crashed Decepticon escape pod. Those that weren't killed by the Autobots perished when the pod exploded. {{storylink|New Recruit}} A few Insecticons were used as muscle when the Decepticons were digging up another Iacon relic, and lifted heavy rocks in their insect modes. They subsequently fought the Autobots and chased Jack around. {{storylink|Legacy (episode)|Legacy}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] phased through an Insecticon while escaping the ''Nemesis'', much to its surprise. {{storylink|Inside Job}} The Insecticons took part in the attack on the Autobot base, though they dropped like flies during the battle. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

After the destruction of the Autobots’ base, several Insecticons helped shift through the rubble to unearth whatever Autobot corpses Megatron hoped to find there. They were unsuccessful. Later, they helped look for the Iacon artifacts left behind on Cybertron during the battle for the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}}

A number of Insecticons arrived at an energon mine reported to be under attack, but encountered only confused [[Decepticon Miner|miners]]. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} A half-dozen Insecticons, including [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]], were sent to a cavern to find [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. Though they successfully find a Predacon skull, Optimus Prime arrived and slaughtered most of them, with only Bombshock escaping with one of the Predacon's horns. {{storylink|Project Predacon}} Four Insecticons were dispatched to help Knock Out against Arcee and Wheeljack. They died. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}}

As a plague began to spread through the ship, the Insecticons joined in eradicating the sufferers, at least until Airachnid was brought back online. She soon retook mental control of them and instructed them to destroy all of the Decepticons, however she and the Insecticons were transported to one of Cybertron's moons by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]. There, the plague took hold of Airachnid, and she began feeding on the Insecticons. {{storylink|Thirst}}

===Titan ''Prime'' comic===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.20|Starscream's Beast}}}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
An Insecticon was among [[Glowstrike]] and [[Scorponok (WFC)|Scorponok]]'s crew of ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' escapees. {{storylink|Metal Meltdown}} Another, [[Razorhorn]], worked as a bounty hunter alongside [[Shadelock]] and [[RoughEdge]], employed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] to track down the [[Weaponizer]]s. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} He eventually ran afoul of the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] and was shipped back to Cybertron on [[Prime Force One]] as a prisoner. {{storylink|Worthy}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' bios===
[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] once webbed [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] to the floor so that an Insecticon could tickle her. {{storylink|Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid's bio}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Insecticon was hanging on a wall near a battle between [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Beautiful Flower Has Thorns? Temptation of the Female Soldier, Airachnid!}}

==Commercial appearances==
One of the Insecticons had direct orders from Megatron to send whoever put Christmas lights on the ''Nemesis'' to the North Pole. He and two of his fellow Insecticons walked right past the two Vehicons responsible. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime#Holiday Schmoliday|30-Second Holiday Special: "Decepticon Holidays: Holiday Schmoliday"}}

==Games==
===''Rise of the Dark Spark''===
Insecticons were shown to had infested the deep underlevels of Cybertron where they were said to be a primitive society where the vast majority followed the strong leaders. Thus, when these stronger Insecticons were present, they deferred to their orders otherwise they would attack any foe that entered their lairs. Megatron dispatched Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream to the vaults that were rumored to hold the mythical relic known as the [[Dark Spark]]. This saw them for the first time encountering the Insecticons where Shockwave managed to best their leaders namely Hardshell, Kickback and Sharpshot. As a result, the trio joined the ranks of the Decepticons and brought their fellow Insecticons into the fold. However, Shockwave commented that the dominance based Insecticons would only be allies so long as they followed their leaders and if said leaders were not present then they could just as likely turn on the Decepticons. When the Autobots Ironhide and Sideswipe recovered the Dark Spark, they attempted to flee with it where they fought off swarms of Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark (console)}}

===''Fall of Cybertron''===
[[File:FOC Grimlock vs Insecticons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Me Grimlock say I squash you like bug.]]

When Cybertron's core shut down to purge itself of the [[Dark Energon]] corruption, the Insecticons and other creatures of the depths were left deprived of sustenance. With nowhere else to go, the swarms began migrating to the surface, where they came into contact with the Autobots and Decepticons. Shockwave continued his experiments using Insecticons as test subjects, creating new breeds such as [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]], combining Autobot source code with Insecticon physiology, and [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]], which were based on alien insects viewed through the space bridge. The Insecticons served under Shockwave during the last days of the war on Cybertron, particularly after the loss of Megatron and the half-baked rise of Starscream. The majority of Insecticons were easily controlled and guided by Shockwave. The trio of Kickback, Sharpshot and Hardshell were intelligent enough to think for themselves and potentially guide the Insecticon swarms in a new direction, so Shockwave deliberately courted their favor.

[[File:FOC-Jazzvsinsecticons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|When did video games become so violent and scary?!]]

When Grimlock and the rest of his squadron crash-landed in the Sea of Rust, they encountered a large Insecticon nest. Though they fought, they were overrun and abducted by Shockwave for experiments. Though Grimlock, Swoop, Slug, and Snarl survived, Sludge was not so fortunate and was left behind in stasis lock. Not long afterwards, [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] entered the same hive and discovered Sludge's body, and also encountered Insecticons as he attempted to escape.

After the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobot]] experiments, Shockwave employed the Insecticons to test [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and his new skills. Hardshell used a massive battle mech to push Grimlock to his limits, Kickback taunted Grimlock in a game of turbofox-and-cybermouse through several conflicts, and Sharpshot tortured [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] with his electrical equipment while taunting Grimlock into responding. Unfortunately for the Insecticons, Shockwave's work was a success and the Dinobots tore through their defenses, killing Sharpshot, Kickback, and countless numbers of lesser Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game'' ===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English)}}
[[File:Insecticons PrimeTheGame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After Arcee fell from orbit and crashed outside Jasper, Nevada, Airachnid sent a swarm of Insecticons to terminate her. Arcee managed to kill the entire swarm before facing Airachnid herself.

Later, while fighting onto the ''Nemesis'', Airachnid sent a few more Insecticons after Arcee. They were also dispatched with ease. However, the distraction they caused allowed Airachnid to escape.
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}

{{-}}

=== ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' mobile app ===
A number of Insecticons were imprisoned on the Autobot ship ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'', and they and their stasis pods scattered across the countryside when the ship wrecked on [[Earth]]. When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] freed Barrage and his [[Mini-Con]] partner Needler, they were able to turn their stasis pod into a duplication machine. Steeljaw and Barrage quickly used the machine to transform a group of Insecticon criminals into a multitudinous army. The Decepticons attempted to use this army to assemble a [[space bridge]] with which to return to Cybertron, but [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and his team of Autobots were able to defeat the Insecticons and return them, including Barrage, to stasis. {{storylink|Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game}}

== Toys ==
===Generations===
[[File:Kickback foc toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Kickback''' (Deluxe Class, 2012)
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 012'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG08'''
**''Accessories:'' "Disc launcher", disc projectile, insect wings/twin battle blades

: ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Kickback is part of the third wave of 2012 ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, and transforms into a Cybertronian insect somewhat resembling a grasshopper. He comes with wings which double as blades, and a disc launcher which looks like a [[Gear Shredder]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/FOCKickback/kickback.htm More information on Kickback at TFU.info]''

{{--}}
===Kre-O===
[[File:KreO-Toy InsecticonKreon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Kre-O Planking grand champion]]
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012)
**''Bag number'': '''22851 46'''
**''Accessories'': Logo brick, horn-blade

: Part of the first normal wave of [[Micro-Changer]] [[Kreon]]s, Insecticon is a [[blindpacking|blindpacked]]-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra bits including legs so he can lie on his tummy and look like some sort of insect.

:Though the toy proper has a Decepticon [[insignia]], his [[instructions]] label him with the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] symbol.

{{-}}{{Anchor|2016}}
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
**''Collection'': '''1'''
**''Accessories'': Logo plate, horn-blade

:In 2016, Collection 1 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released ''Kre-O'' sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Insecticon's torso [[tampograph]] has also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them.

:Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.

{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
[[File:TF-Prime-Beast-Hunters-Commander-Class-Hardshell.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
*'''Hardshell''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2013)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]: [[Beast Hunters (toyline)|Beast Hunters]]'' [[Cyberverse (toyline)#Series 2|Cyberverse]] Commander Class toys. Though packaged as Hardshell, the figure lacks the scars/warpaint that differentiate him from his nameless brethren, and so could easily be army-built.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/Hardshell/hardshell.htm More information on Hardshell at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:PrimeBH-PredaconsRising-toy-Cyberverse-Bombshock.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
* '''Bombshock & Shockwave ''' (Commander 2-pack)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, missile

: A [[redeco]] of [[Hardshell#Toys|Hardshell]], Bombshock transforms into a robotic horned beetle. For some reason, he's branded with a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[insignia|faction symbol]]. His missile launcher, which can be mounted on his back in beetle mode, fires its projectile via pressure-launch. Bombshock was only available as part of a "[[Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising|Predacons Rising]]" Commander Class 2-pack with [[Shockwave (WFC)#Cyberverse2pack|Shockwave]], which, as a second [[wave]] ''Predacons Rising'' release, was only available as a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] in the United States (and not in Canada, Australia or Europe), even though it was used in official advertising by BigW in Australia (who ultimately only stocked the wave 1 [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Target2pack|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Predaking (Prime)#Target2pack|Predaking]] two-pack).

:Curiously, like all ''Predacons Rising'' multi-packs featuring redecoed ''Cyberverse'' figures, this set doesn't identify the figures as ''Cyberverse'' products anywhere on the [[packaging]].

:As shown by an official [[stock photography|stock photo]],<ref name="targetlisting">[http://www.target.com/p/transformers-predacons-command-shockwave-figure/-/A-14575734 Target listing] for the Shockwave/Bombshock set, depicting the packaging with mixed up names.</ref> the packaging in its original presentation featured the name "Shockwave" in front of Bombshock, who is placed on the left, and "Bombshock" in front of Shockwave, who is placed on the right. By the time the two-pack hit stores, this was remedied by stickers with the correct names covering up the wrong ones. However, the side panels retain the old names and the "wrong" set of tech specs.<ref name="stickers">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/953415-predacon-rising-bombshock-shockwave-found.html "Predacon Rising Bombshock and Shockwave found"] thread at TFW2005, showing the stickers.</ref>

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Predacon/Bombshock/bombshock.htm More information on Bombshock at TFU.info]''

===Adventure===
*'''Shrapnel''' ([[2015]]-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV17'''
:Shrapnel is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Shrapnel (G1)#Generations|Skrapnel]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a stag beetle.

*'''Bombshell''' (2015-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV18'''
:Bombshell is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Bombshell (G1)#Generations|Bombshell]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a Japanese rhinoceros beetle.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Thrilling 30===
*'''Insecticon''' (Collectible Figurine, 2014)
**''Series / Number:'' '''2 / #25'''
**''Accessories:'' Collector's base
:A super-deformed Insecticon was released among the blindpacked [[Thrilling 30#Collectible Figurines|''Thrilling 30'' Collectible Figurines]] by [[Goldie Marketing]]. He comes with a base to help him stand, a collector's card that doubles as a puzzle piece, and a checklist.

*'''Collectible Figurines''' (5-pack, 2014)
**''Series:'' '''2'''
**''Accessories:'' 5 collector's bases
:The same Insecticon figurine was also available in a 5-pack alongside [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#Thrilling 30|Bumblebee]], [[Shockwave (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Shockwave]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Wheeljack]] and [[Soundwave (WFC)#Thrilling 30|Soundwave]].

{{--}}

==Notes==
*In the Japanese dub, the Insecticons are quite the Chatty Cathies. Voiced by [[Kensō Katō]], their numerous comedic asides recall his performances as ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspeeter]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Wasp]]inator.
*The ''Prime'' Insecticon design was used in the [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More Than Meets the Eye'' comic book]] as a generic member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s.
*In the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon, the sound an Insecticon makes is changed. Rather than a high pitched squeal like in ''Prime'', it is now a more low pitched roar.
*The insecticons seen in Fall of Cybertron are vastly different from the ones we see in Prime, the same thing can be said with the Robots in Disguise insecticons, as those have nothing to do with the FoC insecticons nor with the prime ones, it's hard to exactly tell if all those insecticons only fit into one group or they are all different things, in the end we can only debate.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Insecticon''' (インセクティコン ''Insekutikon'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Insecticons| Insecticon (WFC)]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Predacons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) subgroups]]

Insecticon (WFC)

2019-02-16T22:06:45Z

Starwis:

{{factions|decepticon|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Insecticon}}
:''The Insecticons are [[Transformer]]s from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:FOCInsecticon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Michael Bay]]'s ''A Bug's Life''.]]

Denizens of the under levels of Cybertron, the '''Insecticons''' live in destructive swarms. Ravenous and aggressive, Insecticons can digest 95% of known matter, reshaping their findings into enormous subterrannean hives. Existing as a near hive mind, they represent a deadly and invaluable resource for those willing to find a way to tame them.

Insecticons have the unique ability to clone themselves, but each successive clone is inferior to its progenitor, leading to increasingly bestial creatures. Some types are capable of assuming bipedal [[robot mode]]s, and a further few seem to be fully intelligent individuals.

Since most of their number are basically animals, Insecticons respond best to displays of power, and their swarms are normally dominated by the smartest and strongest among them. Nevertheless, a sufficiently firm hand or assertion of command from a non-Insecticon may gain control as well, as with the groups controlled by [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and [[Lockdown (Adventure)|Lockdown]].

The earliest known named Insecticons include:

* [[Hardshell]]
* [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]]
* [[Sharpshot]]

Among the other named members of the species are:

* [[Barrage (Prime)|Barrage]]
* [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]]
* [[Buzzclaw (RID)|Buzzclaw]]
* [[Infernox]]
* [[Needler (RID)|Needler]]
* [[Ransack (RID Insecticon)|Ransack]]
* [[Razorhorn]]
* [[Scorpinok (RID)|Scorpinok]]
* [[Skrapnel (RID)|Skrapnel]]
* [[Springbolt]]
* [[Waspinator (RID)|Waspinator]]

In addition, there are countless types of Insecticon drone, each adapted to a specific role. Some of these are:

* [[Bombshell (Adventure)|Bombshells]]
* [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]]
* [[Shrapnel (Adventure)|Shrapnels]]
* [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]]
* [[Insecticon Swarmer|Swarmers]]

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] experimented on three specimens, optimizing them for battle in the gladiatorial arenas of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] by turning them into [[combiner]]s—something that disgusted the gladiator [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatronus]]. They were primitive to the point of barely possessing a sentient consciousness, but surprisingly capable fighters. The way they moved together gave away their nature as combiners even when separate. Even with one of their number dead, the remaining two could combine into a hovering attack mode.

The trio competed in the [[gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial]] [[Tournament of Champions]] when they encountered Megatronus. He allowed them to [[trans-scan|scan]] a vehicle form before attacking. One emerged from a scrapheap as an all-terrain vehicle with magnetic studded tracks and sought a vantage point on the combat pit's wall, while another sprayed acid on Megatronus's shoulder. Megatronus caught the third Insecticon's multiple, vibrobladed hands and tore an arm off, flinging it into the audience and causing havoc.

Taking fire from the other two, Megatronus made the wounded Insecticon fire his own ion cannon into its neck, killing it in an attempt to ensure there would be no combination. He then slammed the acid-spitter to the floor, but it wriggled away and managed to combine with the ATV, wiring itself into girders while blasting and spitting acid at the gladiator. Megatronus transformed and blasted them, before pinning them down in [[robot mode]] and smashing them to pieces with two [[energon mace|maces]]. Megatronus roared "I still function!", as the crowd began chanting a shortened version of his name: Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

In the period after the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' and ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' had left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Shockwave commanded Insecticon soldiers, which [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] feared would be sent to capture the [[Hall of Records]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Sure enough, Alpha Trion's neutrality was finally ignored when Shockwave had him arrested. The Insecticons served as guards for Shockwave as he attempted to hack [[Vector Sigma]] using Alpha Trion's circuitry. When the [[Wrecker]]s arrived to stop Shockwave, the Insecticons confronted the Autobots long enough for Shockwave to escape. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

===IDW Aligned comics===
Shockwave discovered the Insecticons in the depths of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and was able to turn them into Decepticons, believing the warrior race to be the key to winning the war. By altering their already mutated forms, he was able to make the Insecticons loyal to him, and ready to aid the Decepticon empire in broadening its reach beyond Cybertron. {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}} Shockwave had a number of the creatures capture a spying [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] in order to lure the rest of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] to his base. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} When the Autobot team arrived, they too were overwhelmed by a swarm of Insecticons, {{storylink|Siege Mentality}} {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} and though [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] was able to fight them off, he was defeated by Shockwave and his team was captured. The swarm carted the Lightning Strike Coalition off to Shockwave's laboratory so the prisoners could be experimented upon. {{storylink|Last Stand}}

Many Insecticons were left on Cybertron as it was largely abandoned during the war, remaining a constant threat to the few surviving Autobots. When an unseen assailant began murdering people in [[Last Spark]], [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] suspected the Insecticons had turned to cannibalism and investigated Kickback's lair, where they found corpses of [[Forged]], another faction created by Shockwave. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}} While fighting the two, Kickback denied their accusation, claiming the Insecticons had killed the Forged for trying to eat ''them''. Though the Insecticons were proven innocent of this particular crime, Sludge still killed Kickback just in case. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]], [[Steve Blum|Steven Blum]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], [[James Horan]] (English), [[Kensō Katō]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Prime-insecticon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Who thinks they can squash me like a bug?]]
An Insecticon was left in stasis on Cybertron, acting as a Decepticon sentry. It was awakened by [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s arrival in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], and began pursuing them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} As they used the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to reveal a hidden passage under the city's arena, the Insecticon attacked. Arcee attempted to distract it so that Jack could escape into the newly revealed entrance, but she was soundly beaten when it slammed her into the arena wall. The Insecticon then tracked Jack to [[Vector Sigma]], but was horrified to see the supercomputer covered in [[scraplet]]s. Jack hurled one of the scraplets at the Insecticon so that they would stop feeding on Vector Sigma, and the rest of the swarm followed it in attacking the larger beast-bot. The Insecticon was savaged, falling off the bridge into a chasm as it was eaten alive. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

[[File:Crossfire Megatron and Insecticon close together.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Megatron put Eradicating Aerosol in his deck for just such an occasion.]]
When [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] was seeking Energon scraps in an old mine, he noticed an Insecticon doing the same, and was surprised that one was on [[Earth]]. Starscream demanded that the Insecticon hand over the Energon it had found, though it instead turned on him and attacked, before [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] called it off. Airachnid had managed to control it, due to their being related. Though Starscream suggested that they all team up to end [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Airachnid instead ordered the Insecticon to attack him, however he escaped. Sometime later, the Insecticon attacked Megatron as part of Airachnid's trap, refusing to obey him instead. The Insecticon had the upper hand on the Decepticon leader, particularly when Airachnid removed his fusion cannon from the equation, however Megatron eventually triumphed as he beheaded the Insecticon. However, as the escaped Airachnid discovered, it was only a scout for an entire hive of Insecticons in stasis underground. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

[[File:Armada-armadasurroundMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|We're going to need a bigger ship.]]
Airachnid awoke the Insecticons after detecting a signal from the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', and sent most of them to terminate Megatron, while others attempted to protect her from the Autobots who arrived to see what was happening. While [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] eliminated the Insecticons attacking them, Arcee chased down Airachnid and put her in stasis. At that point her control of the Insecticons ceased, and those attacking the ''Nemesis'' stopped and proclaimed their loyalty to Megatron. Then, the ''Nemesis'' crashed for [[Bulkhead (Prime)|some reason]]. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

Now added to the Decepticon ranks, the Insecticons were free to move about the ship. After Megatron used [[Dark Energon]] to bring the ship back online but as a consequence the ship started making its own decisions, Megatron then sent all of the ship's crew, including the Insecticons, to stop the ''Nemesis''. They failed and were stasis locked by the ''Nemesis'''s stasis cannon sweep of the ship. They started recovering after Jack disabled the ship's Dark Energon influence. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

A single Insecticon went with [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to watch over the medic as they searched for one of the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] relics in the [[New York City|Manhattan]] subway. When Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] turned up, it easily brought them down. But soon they started fighting back, and the Insecticon pursued Arcee down the tunnel, and eventually the two began clashing. The Insecticon had the upper hand until she managed to get it to come into contact with the electrified third rail on the subway track, frying it. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}}

[[File:HardshellTeaser.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|"These scars? They make [[Grimlock (Animated)|Me Hardshell]] [[David Kaye|badass]]."]]

Megatron entered the chamber occupied by the Insecticons and asked for the fiercest among them to retrieve the fourth Iacon relic. [[Hardshell]] led three other Insecticons to the Earth's equator, and Hardshell's first fight with Bulkhead resulted in defeat. As they continued their mission, one of the Insecticons fell prey to a grenade and some [[Tox-En]]. Hardshell and the others were mislead by a false trail left by Bulkhead, but eventually caught up with the Wrecker at the top of a nearby volcano. He managed to acquit himself well against the trio, finishing off one Insecticon and throwing Hardshell and the Tox-En into the volcano. Hardshell survived his swim and shot Bulkhead in the back as the Autobot was retreating through the [[GroundBridge]]. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

Megatron was unhappy with the results of the mission and the Insecticons faced hostility from Knock Out and the Vehicons, eventually resulting in a brawl aboard the ''Nemesis''. Hardshell was dispatched to deal with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] and almost bested his foe, until [[Miko Nakadai]] killed him using the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons systems. The rest of the Insecticons pursued the ship, only stopping when Wheeljack threw a bag of grenades at them. The survivors dragged Hardshell's corpse back to the Decepticon warship to report his failure. {{storylink|Hurt}}

Some Vehicons and Insecticons were sent to investigate a crashed Decepticon escape pod. Those that weren't killed by the Autobots perished when the pod exploded. {{storylink|New Recruit}} A few Insecticons were used as muscle when the Decepticons were digging up another Iacon relic, and lifted heavy rocks in their insect modes. They subsequently fought the Autobots and chased Jack around. {{storylink|Legacy (episode)|Legacy}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] phased through an Insecticon while escaping the ''Nemesis'', much to its surprise. {{storylink|Inside Job}} The Insecticons took part in the attack on the Autobot base, though they dropped like flies during the battle. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

After the destruction of the Autobots’ base, several Insecticons helped shift through the rubble to unearth whatever Autobot corpses Megatron hoped to find there. They were unsuccessful. Later, they helped look for the Iacon artifacts left behind on Cybertron during the battle for the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}}

A number of Insecticons arrived at an energon mine reported to be under attack, but encountered only confused [[Decepticon Miner|miners]]. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} A half-dozen Insecticons, including [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]], were sent to a cavern to find [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. Though they successfully find a Predacon skull, Optimus Prime arrived and slaughtered most of them, with only Bombshock escaping with one of the Predacon's horns. {{storylink|Project Predacon}} Four Insecticons were dispatched to help Knock Out against Arcee and Wheeljack. They died. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}}

As a plague began to spread through the ship, the Insecticons joined in eradicating the sufferers, at least until Airachnid was brought back online. She soon retook mental control of them and instructed them to destroy all of the Decepticons, however she and the Insecticons were transported to one of Cybertron's moons by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]. There, the plague took hold of Airachnid, and she began feeding on the Insecticons. {{storylink|Thirst}}

===Titan ''Prime'' comic===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.20|Starscream's Beast}}}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
An Insecticon was among [[Glowstrike]] and [[Scorponok (WFC)|Scorponok]]'s crew of ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' escapees. {{storylink|Metal Meltdown}} Another, [[Razorhorn]], worked as a bounty hunter alongside [[Shadelock]] and [[RoughEdge]], employed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] to track down the [[Weaponizer]]s. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} He eventually ran afoul of the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] and was shipped back to Cybertron on [[Prime Force One]] as a prisoner. {{storylink|Worthy}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' bios===
[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] once webbed [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] to the floor so that an Insecticon could tickle her. {{storylink|Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid's bio}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Insecticon was hanging on a wall near a battle between [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Beautiful Flower Has Thorns? Temptation of the Female Soldier, Airachnid!}}

==Commercial appearances==
One of the Insecticons had direct orders from Megatron to send whoever put Christmas lights on the ''Nemesis'' to the North Pole. He and two of his fellow Insecticons walked right past the two Vehicons responsible. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime#Holiday Schmoliday|30-Second Holiday Special: "Decepticon Holidays: Holiday Schmoliday"}}

==Games==
===''Rise of the Dark Spark''===
Insecticons were shown to had infested the deep underlevels of Cybertron where they were said to be a primitive society where the vast majority followed the strong leaders. Thus, when these stronger Insecticons were present, they deferred to their orders otherwise they would attack any foe that entered their lairs. Megatron dispatched Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream to the vaults that were rumored to hold the mythical relic known as the [[Dark Spark]]. This saw them for the first time encountering the Insecticons where Shockwave managed to best their leaders namely Hardshell, Kickback and Sharpshot. As a result, the trio joined the ranks of the Decepticons and brought their fellow Insecticons into the fold. However, Shockwave commented that the dominance based Insecticons would only be allies so long as they followed their leaders and if said leaders were not present then they could just as likely turn on the Decepticons. When the Autobots Ironhide and Sideswipe recovered the Dark Spark, they attempted to flee with it where they fought off swarms of Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark (console)}}

===''Fall of Cybertron''===
[[File:FOC Grimlock vs Insecticons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Me Grimlock say I squash you like bug.]]

When Cybertron's core shut down to purge itself of the [[Dark Energon]] corruption, the Insecticons and other creatures of the depths were left deprived of sustenance. With nowhere else to go, the swarms began migrating to the surface, where they came into contact with the Autobots and Decepticons. Shockwave continued his experiments using Insecticons as test subjects, creating new breeds such as [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]], combining Autobot source code with Insecticon physiology, and [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]], which were based on alien insects viewed through the space bridge. The Insecticons served under Shockwave during the last days of the war on Cybertron, particularly after the loss of Megatron and the half-baked rise of Starscream. The majority of Insecticons were easily controlled and guided by Shockwave. The trio of Kickback, Sharpshot and Hardshell were intelligent enough to think for themselves and potentially guide the Insecticon swarms in a new direction, so Shockwave deliberately courted their favor.

[[File:FOC-Jazzvsinsecticons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|When did video games become so violent and scary?!]]

When Grimlock and the rest of his squadron crash-landed in the Sea of Rust, they encountered a large Insecticon nest. Though they fought, they were overrun and abducted by Shockwave for experiments. Though Grimlock, Swoop, Slug, and Snarl survived, Sludge was not so fortunate and was left behind in stasis lock. Not long afterwards, [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] entered the same hive and discovered Sludge's body, and also encountered Insecticons as he attempted to escape.

After the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobot]] experiments, Shockwave employed the Insecticons to test [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and his new skills. Hardshell used a massive battle mech to push Grimlock to his limits, Kickback taunted Grimlock in a game of turbofox-and-cybermouse through several conflicts, and Sharpshot tortured [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] with his electrical equipment while taunting Grimlock into responding. Unfortunately for the Insecticons, Shockwave's work was a success and the Dinobots tore through their defenses, killing Sharpshot, Kickback, and countless numbers of lesser Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game'' ===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English)}}
[[File:Insecticons PrimeTheGame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After Arcee fell from orbit and crashed outside Jasper, Nevada, Airachnid sent a swarm of Insecticons to terminate her. Arcee managed to kill the entire swarm before facing Airachnid herself.

Later, while fighting onto the ''Nemesis'', Airachnid sent a few more Insecticons after Arcee. They were also dispatched with ease. However, the distraction they caused allowed Airachnid to escape.
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}

{{-}}

=== ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' mobile app ===
A number of Insecticons were imprisoned on the Autobot ship ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'', and they and their stasis pods scattered across the countryside when the ship wrecked on [[Earth]]. When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] freed Barrage and his [[Mini-Con]] partner Needler, they were able to turn their stasis pod into a duplication machine. Steeljaw and Barrage quickly used the machine to transform a group of Insecticon criminals into a multitudinous army. The Decepticons attempted to use this army to assemble a [[space bridge]] with which to return to Cybertron, but [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and his team of Autobots were able to defeat the Insecticons and return them, including Barrage, to stasis. {{storylink|Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game}}

== Toys ==
===Generations===
[[File:Kickback foc toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Kickback''' (Deluxe Class, 2012)
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 012'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG08'''
**''Accessories:'' "Disc launcher", disc projectile, insect wings/twin battle blades

: ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Kickback is part of the third wave of 2012 ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, and transforms into a Cybertronian insect somewhat resembling a grasshopper. He comes with wings which double as blades, and a disc launcher which looks like a [[Gear Shredder]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/FOCKickback/kickback.htm More information on Kickback at TFU.info]''

{{--}}
===Kre-O===
[[File:KreO-Toy InsecticonKreon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Kre-O Planking grand champion]]
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012)
**''Bag number'': '''22851 46'''
**''Accessories'': Logo brick, horn-blade

: Part of the first normal wave of [[Micro-Changer]] [[Kreon]]s, Insecticon is a [[blindpacking|blindpacked]]-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra bits including legs so he can lie on his tummy and look like some sort of insect.

:Though the toy proper has a Decepticon [[insignia]], his [[instructions]] label him with the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] symbol.

{{-}}{{Anchor|2016}}
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
**''Collection'': '''1'''
**''Accessories'': Logo plate, horn-blade

:In 2016, Collection 1 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released ''Kre-O'' sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Insecticon's torso [[tampograph]] has also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them.

:Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.

{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
[[File:TF-Prime-Beast-Hunters-Commander-Class-Hardshell.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
*'''Hardshell''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2013)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]: [[Beast Hunters (toyline)|Beast Hunters]]'' [[Cyberverse (toyline)#Series 2|Cyberverse]] Commander Class toys. Though packaged as Hardshell, the figure lacks the scars/warpaint that differentiate him from his nameless brethren, and so could easily be army-built.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/Hardshell/hardshell.htm More information on Hardshell at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:PrimeBH-PredaconsRising-toy-Cyberverse-Bombshock.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
* '''Bombshock & Shockwave ''' (Commander 2-pack)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, missile

: A [[redeco]] of [[Hardshell#Toys|Hardshell]], Bombshock transforms into a robotic horned beetle. For some reason, he's branded with a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[insignia|faction symbol]]. His missile launcher, which can be mounted on his back in beetle mode, fires its projectile via pressure-launch. Bombshock was only available as part of a "[[Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising|Predacons Rising]]" Commander Class 2-pack with [[Shockwave (WFC)#Cyberverse2pack|Shockwave]], which, as a second [[wave]] ''Predacons Rising'' release, was only available as a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] in the United States (and not in Canada, Australia or Europe), even though it was used in official advertising by BigW in Australia (who ultimately only stocked the wave 1 [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Target2pack|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Predaking (Prime)#Target2pack|Predaking]] two-pack).

:Curiously, like all ''Predacons Rising'' multi-packs featuring redecoed ''Cyberverse'' figures, this set doesn't identify the figures as ''Cyberverse'' products anywhere on the [[packaging]].

:As shown by an official [[stock photography|stock photo]],<ref name="targetlisting">[http://www.target.com/p/transformers-predacons-command-shockwave-figure/-/A-14575734 Target listing] for the Shockwave/Bombshock set, depicting the packaging with mixed up names.</ref> the packaging in its original presentation featured the name "Shockwave" in front of Bombshock, who is placed on the left, and "Bombshock" in front of Shockwave, who is placed on the right. By the time the two-pack hit stores, this was remedied by stickers with the correct names covering up the wrong ones. However, the side panels retain the old names and the "wrong" set of tech specs.<ref name="stickers">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/953415-predacon-rising-bombshock-shockwave-found.html "Predacon Rising Bombshock and Shockwave found"] thread at TFW2005, showing the stickers.</ref>

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Predacon/Bombshock/bombshock.htm More information on Bombshock at TFU.info]''

===Adventure===
*'''Shrapnel''' ([[2015]]-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV17'''
:Shrapnel is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Shrapnel (G1)#Generations|Skrapnel]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a stag beetle.

*'''Bombshell''' (2015-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV18'''
:Bombshell is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Bombshell (G1)#Generations|Bombshell]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a Japanese rhinoceros beetle.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Thrilling 30===
*'''Insecticon''' (Collectible Figurine, 2014)
**''Series / Number:'' '''2 / #25'''
**''Accessories:'' Collector's base
:A super-deformed Insecticon was released among the blindpacked [[Thrilling 30#Collectible Figurines|''Thrilling 30'' Collectible Figurines]] by [[Goldie Marketing]]. He comes with a base to help him stand, a collector's card that doubles as a puzzle piece, and a checklist.

*'''Collectible Figurines''' (5-pack, 2014)
**''Series:'' '''2'''
**''Accessories:'' 5 collector's bases
:The same Insecticon figurine was also available in a 5-pack alongside [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#Thrilling 30|Bumblebee]], [[Shockwave (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Shockwave]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Wheeljack]] and [[Soundwave (WFC)#Thrilling 30|Soundwave]].

{{--}}

==Notes==
*In the Japanese dub, the Insecticons are quite the Chatty Cathies. Voiced by [[Kensō Katō]], their numerous comedic asides recall his performances as ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspeeter]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Wasp]]inator.
*The ''Prime'' Insecticon design was used in the [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More Than Meets the Eye'' comic book]] as a generic member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s.
*In the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon, the sound an Insecticon makes is changed. Rather than a high pitched squeal like in ''Prime'', it is now a more low pitched roar.
*The insecticons seen in Fall of Cybertron are vastly different from the ones we see in Prime, the same thing can be said with the Robots in Disguise insecticons, as those have nothing to do either with the FoC insecticons nor with the prime ones, it's hard to exactly tell if all those insecticons only fit into one group or they are all different things, in the end we can only debate.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Insecticon''' (インセクティコン ''Insekutikon'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Insecticons| Insecticon (WFC)]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Predacons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) subgroups]]

Insecticon (WFC)

2019-02-16T21:50:49Z

Starwis:

Insecticon (WFC)

2019-02-16T21:50:19Z

Starwis:

{{factions|decepticon|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Insecticon}}
:''The Insecticons are [[Transformer]]s from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[File:FOCInsecticon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|[[Michael Bay]]'s ''A Bug's Life''.]]

Denizens of the under levels of Cybertron, the '''Insecticons''' live in destructive swarms. Ravenous and aggressive, Insecticons can digest 95% of known matter, reshaping their findings into enormous subterrannean hives. Existing as a near hive mind, they represent a deadly and invaluable resource for those willing to find a way to tame them.

Insecticons have the unique ability to clone themselves, but each successive clone is inferior to its progenitor, leading to increasingly bestial creatures. Some types are capable of assuming bipedal [[robot mode]]s, and a further few seem to be fully intelligent individuals.

Since most of their number are basically animals, Insecticons respond best to displays of power, and their swarms are normally dominated by the smartest and strongest among them. Nevertheless, a sufficiently firm hand or assertion of command from a non-Insecticon may gain control as well, as with the groups controlled by [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] and [[Lockdown (Adventure)|Lockdown]].

The earliest known named Insecticons include:

* [[Hardshell]]
* [[Kickback (FOC)|Kickback]]
* [[Sharpshot]]

Among the other named members of the species are:

* [[Barrage (Prime)|Barrage]]
* [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]]
* [[Buzzclaw (RID)|Buzzclaw]]
* [[Infernox]]
* [[Needler (RID)|Needler]]
* [[Ransack (RID Insecticon)|Ransack]]
* [[Razorhorn]]
* [[Scorpinok (RID)|Scorpinok]]
* [[Skrapnel (RID)|Skrapnel]]
* [[Springbolt]]
* [[Waspinator (RID)|Waspinator]]

In addition, there are countless types of Insecticon drone, each adapted to a specific role. Some of these are:

* [[Bombshell (Adventure)|Bombshells]]
* [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]]
* [[Shrapnel (Adventure)|Shrapnels]]
* [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]]
* [[Insecticon Swarmer|Swarmers]]

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] experimented on three specimens, optimizing them for battle in the gladiatorial arenas of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] by turning them into [[combiner]]s—something that disgusted the gladiator [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatronus]]. They were primitive to the point of barely possessing a sentient consciousness, but surprisingly capable fighters. The way they moved together gave away their nature as combiners even when separate. Even with one of their number dead, the remaining two could combine into a hovering attack mode.

The trio competed in the [[gladiatorial combat|gladiatorial]] [[Tournament of Champions]] when they encountered Megatronus. He allowed them to [[trans-scan|scan]] a vehicle form before attacking. One emerged from a scrapheap as an all-terrain vehicle with magnetic studded tracks and sought a vantage point on the combat pit's wall, while another sprayed acid on Megatronus's shoulder. Megatronus caught the third Insecticon's multiple, vibrobladed hands and tore an arm off, flinging it into the audience and causing havoc.

Taking fire from the other two, Megatronus made the wounded Insecticon fire his own ion cannon into its neck, killing it in an attempt to ensure there would be no combination. He then slammed the acid-spitter to the floor, but it wriggled away and managed to combine with the ATV, wiring itself into girders while blasting and spitting acid at the gladiator. Megatronus transformed and blasted them, before pinning them down in [[robot mode]] and smashing them to pieces with two [[energon mace|maces]]. Megatronus roared "I still function!", as the crowd began chanting a shortened version of his name: Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

In the period after the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' and ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' had left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Shockwave commanded Insecticon soldiers, which [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] feared would be sent to capture the [[Hall of Records]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

Sure enough, Alpha Trion's neutrality was finally ignored when Shockwave had him arrested. The Insecticons served as guards for Shockwave as he attempted to hack [[Vector Sigma]] using Alpha Trion's circuitry. When the [[Wrecker]]s arrived to stop Shockwave, the Insecticons confronted the Autobots long enough for Shockwave to escape. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

===IDW Aligned comics===
Shockwave discovered the Insecticons in the depths of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and was able to turn them into Decepticons, believing the warrior race to be the key to winning the war. By altering their already mutated forms, he was able to make the Insecticons loyal to him, and ready to aid the Decepticon empire in broadening its reach beyond Cybertron. {{storylink|Fragmentation (FOC)|Fragmentation}} Shockwave had a number of the creatures capture a spying [[Swoop (WFC)|Swoop]] in order to lure the rest of the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] to his base. {{storylink|Secrets (FOC)|Secrets}} When the Autobot team arrived, they too were overwhelmed by a swarm of Insecticons, {{storylink|Siege Mentality}} {{storylink|Rage of the Dinobots issue 4|Rage of the Dinobots #4}} and though [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] was able to fight them off, he was defeated by Shockwave and his team was captured. The swarm carted the Lightning Strike Coalition off to Shockwave's laboratory so the prisoners could be experimented upon. {{storylink|Last Stand}}

Many Insecticons were left on Cybertron as it was largely abandoned during the war, remaining a constant threat to the few surviving Autobots. When an unseen assailant began murdering people in [[Last Spark]], [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] and [[Sludge (FOC)|Sludge]] suspected the Insecticons had turned to cannibalism and investigated Kickback's lair, where they found corpses of [[Forged]], another faction created by Shockwave. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 1|Beast Hunters #1}} While fighting the two, Kickback denied their accusation, claiming the Insecticons had killed the Forged for trying to eat ''them''. Though the Insecticons were proven innocent of this particular crime, Sludge still killed Kickback just in case. {{storylink|Beast Hunters issue 2|Beast Hunters #2}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]], [[Steve Blum|Steven Blum]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], [[James Horan]] (English), [[Kensō Katō]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Prime-insecticon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Who thinks they can squash me like a bug?]]
An Insecticon was left in stasis on Cybertron, acting as a Decepticon sentry. It was awakened by [[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s arrival in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]], and began pursuing them. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}} As they used the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to reveal a hidden passage under the city's arena, the Insecticon attacked. Arcee attempted to distract it so that Jack could escape into the newly revealed entrance, but she was soundly beaten when it slammed her into the arena wall. The Insecticon then tracked Jack to [[Vector Sigma]], but was horrified to see the supercomputer covered in [[scraplet]]s. Jack hurled one of the scraplets at the Insecticon so that they would stop feeding on Vector Sigma, and the rest of the swarm followed it in attacking the larger beast-bot. The Insecticon was savaged, falling off the bridge into a chasm as it was eaten alive. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

[[File:Crossfire Megatron and Insecticon close together.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Megatron put Eradicating Aerosol in his deck for just such an occasion.]]
When [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] was seeking Energon scraps in an old mine, he noticed an Insecticon doing the same, and was surprised that one was on [[Earth]]. Starscream demanded that the Insecticon hand over the Energon it had found, though it instead turned on him and attacked, before [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] called it off. Airachnid had managed to control it, due to their being related. Though Starscream suggested that they all team up to end [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Airachnid instead ordered the Insecticon to attack him, however he escaped. Sometime later, the Insecticon attacked Megatron as part of Airachnid's trap, refusing to obey him instead. The Insecticon had the upper hand on the Decepticon leader, particularly when Airachnid removed his fusion cannon from the equation, however Megatron eventually triumphed as he beheaded the Insecticon. However, as the escaped Airachnid discovered, it was only a scout for an entire hive of Insecticons in stasis underground. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

[[File:Armada-armadasurroundMegatron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|We're going to need a bigger ship.]]
Airachnid awoke the Insecticons after detecting a signal from the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'', and sent most of them to terminate Megatron, while others attempted to protect her from the Autobots who arrived to see what was happening. While [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] eliminated the Insecticons attacking them, Arcee chased down Airachnid and put her in stasis. At that point her control of the Insecticons ceased, and those attacking the ''Nemesis'' stopped and proclaimed their loyalty to Megatron. Then, the ''Nemesis'' crashed for [[Bulkhead (Prime)|some reason]]. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

Now added to the Decepticon ranks, the Insecticons were free to move about the ship. After Megatron used [[Dark Energon]] to bring the ship back online but as a consequence the ship started making its own decisions, Megatron then sent all of the ship's crew, including the Insecticons, to stop the ''Nemesis''. They failed and were stasis locked by the ''Nemesis'''s stasis cannon sweep of the ship. They started recovering after Jack disabled the ship's Dark Energon influence. {{storylink|Flying Mind}}

A single Insecticon went with [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to watch over the medic as they searched for one of the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] relics in the [[New York City|Manhattan]] subway. When Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] turned up, it easily brought them down. But soon they started fighting back, and the Insecticon pursued Arcee down the tunnel, and eventually the two began clashing. The Insecticon had the upper hand until she managed to get it to come into contact with the electrified third rail on the subway track, frying it. {{storylink|Tunnel Vision}}

[[File:HardshellTeaser.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|"These scars? They make [[Grimlock (Animated)|Me Hardshell]] [[David Kaye|badass]]."]]

Megatron entered the chamber occupied by the Insecticons and asked for the fiercest among them to retrieve the fourth Iacon relic. [[Hardshell]] led three other Insecticons to the Earth's equator, and Hardshell's first fight with Bulkhead resulted in defeat. As they continued their mission, one of the Insecticons fell prey to a grenade and some [[Tox-En]]. Hardshell and the others were mislead by a false trail left by Bulkhead, but eventually caught up with the Wrecker at the top of a nearby volcano. He managed to acquit himself well against the trio, finishing off one Insecticon and throwing Hardshell and the Tox-En into the volcano. Hardshell survived his swim and shot Bulkhead in the back as the Autobot was retreating through the [[GroundBridge]]. {{storylink|Toxicity}}

Megatron was unhappy with the results of the mission and the Insecticons faced hostility from Knock Out and the Vehicons, eventually resulting in a brawl aboard the ''Nemesis''. Hardshell was dispatched to deal with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] and almost bested his foe, until [[Miko Nakadai]] killed him using the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> weapons systems. The rest of the Insecticons pursued the ship, only stopping when Wheeljack threw a bag of grenades at them. The survivors dragged Hardshell's corpse back to the Decepticon warship to report his failure. {{storylink|Hurt}}

Some Vehicons and Insecticons were sent to investigate a crashed Decepticon escape pod. Those that weren't killed by the Autobots perished when the pod exploded. {{storylink|New Recruit}} A few Insecticons were used as muscle when the Decepticons were digging up another Iacon relic, and lifted heavy rocks in their insect modes. They subsequently fought the Autobots and chased Jack around. {{storylink|Legacy (episode)|Legacy}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] phased through an Insecticon while escaping the ''Nemesis'', much to its surprise. {{storylink|Inside Job}} The Insecticons took part in the attack on the Autobot base, though they dropped like flies during the battle. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (episode)|Darkest Hour}}

After the destruction of the Autobots’ base, several Insecticons helped shift through the rubble to unearth whatever Autobot corpses Megatron hoped to find there. They were unsuccessful. Later, they helped look for the Iacon artifacts left behind on Cybertron during the battle for the Omega Lock. {{storylink|Darkmount, NV}}

A number of Insecticons arrived at an energon mine reported to be under attack, but encountered only confused [[Decepticon Miner|miners]]. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}} A half-dozen Insecticons, including [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]], were sent to a cavern to find [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] remains. Though they successfully find a Predacon skull, Optimus Prime arrived and slaughtered most of them, with only Bombshock escaping with one of the Predacon's horns. {{storylink|Project Predacon}} Four Insecticons were dispatched to help Knock Out against Arcee and Wheeljack. They died. {{storylink|Plus One (Prime)|Plus One}}

As a plague began to spread through the ship, the Insecticons joined in eradicating the sufferers, at least until Airachnid was brought back online. She soon retook mental control of them and instructed them to destroy all of the Decepticons, however she and the Insecticons were transported to one of Cybertron's moons by [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]. There, the plague took hold of Airachnid, and she began feeding on the Insecticons. {{storylink|Thirst}}

===Titan ''Prime'' comic===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.20|Starscream's Beast}}}}

===2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
An Insecticon was among [[Glowstrike]] and [[Scorponok (WFC)|Scorponok]]'s crew of ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'' escapees. {{storylink|Metal Meltdown}} Another, [[Razorhorn]], worked as a bounty hunter alongside [[Shadelock]] and [[RoughEdge]], employed by [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] to track down the [[Weaponizer]]s. {{storylink|Mighty Big Trouble}} {{storylink|Mini-Con Madness (RID)|Mini-Con Madness}} He eventually ran afoul of the [[Bee Team (RID)|Bee Team]] and was shipped back to Cybertron on [[Prime Force One]] as a prisoner. {{storylink|Worthy}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' bios===
[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] once webbed [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] to the floor so that an Insecticon could tickle her. {{storylink|Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid's bio}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Insecticon was hanging on a wall near a battle between [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Beautiful Flower Has Thorns? Temptation of the Female Soldier, Airachnid!}}

==Commercial appearances==
One of the Insecticons had direct orders from Megatron to send whoever put Christmas lights on the ''Nemesis'' to the North Pole. He and two of his fellow Insecticons walked right past the two Vehicons responsible. {{storylink|Commercial/Prime#Holiday Schmoliday|30-Second Holiday Special: "Decepticon Holidays: Holiday Schmoliday"}}

==Games==
===''Rise of the Dark Spark''===
Insecticons were shown to had infested the deep underlevels of Cybertron where they were said to be a primitive society where the vast majority followed the strong leaders. Thus, when these stronger Insecticons were present, they deferred to their orders otherwise they would attack any foe that entered their lairs. Megatron dispatched Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream to the vaults that were rumored to hold the mythical relic known as the [[Dark Spark]]. This saw them for the first time encountering the Insecticons where Shockwave managed to best their leaders namely Hardshell, Kickback and Sharpshot. As a result, the trio joined the ranks of the Decepticons and brought their fellow Insecticons into the fold. However, Shockwave commented that the dominance based Insecticons would only be allies so long as they followed their leaders and if said leaders were not present then they could just as likely turn on the Decepticons. When the Autobots Ironhide and Sideswipe recovered the Dark Spark, they attempted to flee with it where they fought off swarms of Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Rise of the Dark Spark (console)}}

===''Fall of Cybertron''===
[[File:FOC Grimlock vs Insecticons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Me Grimlock say I squash you like bug.]]

When Cybertron's core shut down to purge itself of the [[Dark Energon]] corruption, the Insecticons and other creatures of the depths were left deprived of sustenance. With nowhere else to go, the swarms began migrating to the surface, where they came into contact with the Autobots and Decepticons. Shockwave continued his experiments using Insecticons as test subjects, creating new breeds such as [[Insecticon Bruiser|Bruisers]], combining Autobot source code with Insecticon physiology, and [[Insecticon Spitter|Spitters]], which were based on alien insects viewed through the space bridge. The Insecticons served under Shockwave during the last days of the war on Cybertron, particularly after the loss of Megatron and the half-baked rise of Starscream. The majority of Insecticons were easily controlled and guided by Shockwave. The trio of Kickback, Sharpshot and Hardshell were intelligent enough to think for themselves and potentially guide the Insecticon swarms in a new direction, so Shockwave deliberately courted their favor.

[[File:FOC-Jazzvsinsecticons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67|When did video games become so violent and scary?!]]

When Grimlock and the rest of his squadron crash-landed in the Sea of Rust, they encountered a large Insecticon nest. Though they fought, they were overrun and abducted by Shockwave for experiments. Though Grimlock, Swoop, Slug, and Snarl survived, Sludge was not so fortunate and was left behind in stasis lock. Not long afterwards, [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] entered the same hive and discovered Sludge's body, and also encountered Insecticons as he attempted to escape.

After the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobot]] experiments, Shockwave employed the Insecticons to test [[Grimlock (WFC)|Grimlock]] and his new skills. Hardshell used a massive battle mech to push Grimlock to his limits, Kickback taunted Grimlock in a game of turbofox-and-cybermouse through several conflicts, and Sharpshot tortured [[Snarl (FOC)|Snarl]] with his electrical equipment while taunting Grimlock into responding. Unfortunately for the Insecticons, Shockwave's work was a success and the Dinobots tore through their defenses, killing Sharpshot, Kickback, and countless numbers of lesser Insecticons in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron}}

{{--}}

=== ''Transformers: Prime - The Game'' ===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English)}}
[[File:Insecticons PrimeTheGame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After Arcee fell from orbit and crashed outside Jasper, Nevada, Airachnid sent a swarm of Insecticons to terminate her. Arcee managed to kill the entire swarm before facing Airachnid herself.

Later, while fighting onto the ''Nemesis'', Airachnid sent a few more Insecticons after Arcee. They were also dispatched with ease. However, the distraction they caused allowed Airachnid to escape.
{{storylink|Transformers: Prime - The Game}}

{{-}}

=== ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' mobile app ===
A number of Insecticons were imprisoned on the Autobot ship ''[[Alchemor (RID)|Alchemor]]'', and they and their stasis pods scattered across the countryside when the ship wrecked on [[Earth]]. When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] freed Barrage and his [[Mini-Con]] partner Needler, they were able to turn their stasis pod into a duplication machine. Steeljaw and Barrage quickly used the machine to transform a group of Insecticon criminals into a multitudinous army. The Decepticons attempted to use this army to assemble a [[space bridge]] with which to return to Cybertron, but [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and his team of Autobots were able to defeat the Insecticons and return them, including Barrage, to stasis. {{storylink|Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game}}

== Toys ==
===Generations===
[[File:Kickback foc toy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Kickback''' (Deluxe Class, 2012)
**''Series / number'': '''1 / 012'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG08'''
**''Accessories:'' "Disc launcher", disc projectile, insect wings/twin battle blades

: ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' Kickback is part of the third wave of 2012 ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, and transforms into a Cybertronian insect somewhat resembling a grasshopper. He comes with wings which double as blades, and a disc launcher which looks like a [[Gear Shredder]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/FOCKickback/kickback.htm More information on Kickback at TFU.info]''

{{--}}
===Kre-O===
[[File:KreO-Toy InsecticonKreon.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Kre-O Planking grand champion]]
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2012)
**''Bag number'': '''22851 46'''
**''Accessories'': Logo brick, horn-blade

: Part of the first normal wave of [[Micro-Changer]] [[Kreon]]s, Insecticon is a [[blindpacking|blindpacked]]-bagged mini-figure, though a stamped ID number can be found on the back of the bag, top-right corner. He comes with extra bits including legs so he can lie on his tummy and look like some sort of insect.

:Though the toy proper has a Decepticon [[insignia]], his [[instructions]] label him with the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] symbol.

{{-}}{{Anchor|2016}}
* '''Insecticon''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
**''Collection'': '''1'''
**''Accessories'': Logo plate, horn-blade

:In 2016, Collection 1 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released ''Kre-O'' sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) Insecticon's torso [[tampograph]] has also been reworked to be slightly more detailed, and the formerly-bare legs now have extra detail tampographing on them.

:Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.

{{-}}

===Beast Hunters===
[[File:TF-Prime-Beast-Hunters-Commander-Class-Hardshell.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
*'''Hardshell''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2013)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]: [[Beast Hunters (toyline)|Beast Hunters]]'' [[Cyberverse (toyline)#Series 2|Cyberverse]] Commander Class toys. Though packaged as Hardshell, the figure lacks the scars/warpaint that differentiate him from his nameless brethren, and so could easily be army-built.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/Hardshell/hardshell.htm More information on Hardshell at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:PrimeBH-PredaconsRising-toy-Cyberverse-Bombshock.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
* '''Bombshock & Shockwave ''' (Commander 2-pack)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, missile

: A [[redeco]] of [[Hardshell#Toys|Hardshell]], Bombshock transforms into a robotic horned beetle. For some reason, he's branded with a [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] [[insignia|faction symbol]]. His missile launcher, which can be mounted on his back in beetle mode, fires its projectile via pressure-launch. Bombshock was only available as part of a "[[Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising|Predacons Rising]]" Commander Class 2-pack with [[Shockwave (WFC)#Cyberverse2pack|Shockwave]], which, as a second [[wave]] ''Predacons Rising'' release, was only available as a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] in the United States (and not in Canada, Australia or Europe), even though it was used in official advertising by BigW in Australia (who ultimately only stocked the wave 1 [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Target2pack|Optimus Prime]] vs [[Predaking (Prime)#Target2pack|Predaking]] two-pack).

:Curiously, like all ''Predacons Rising'' multi-packs featuring redecoed ''Cyberverse'' figures, this set doesn't identify the figures as ''Cyberverse'' products anywhere on the [[packaging]].

:As shown by an official [[stock photography|stock photo]],<ref name="targetlisting">[http://www.target.com/p/transformers-predacons-command-shockwave-figure/-/A-14575734 Target listing] for the Shockwave/Bombshock set, depicting the packaging with mixed up names.</ref> the packaging in its original presentation featured the name "Shockwave" in front of Bombshock, who is placed on the left, and "Bombshock" in front of Shockwave, who is placed on the right. By the time the two-pack hit stores, this was remedied by stickers with the correct names covering up the wrong ones. However, the side panels retain the old names and the "wrong" set of tech specs.<ref name="stickers">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/953415-predacon-rising-bombshock-shockwave-found.html "Predacon Rising Bombshock and Shockwave found"] thread at TFW2005, showing the stickers.</ref>

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Predacon/Bombshock/bombshock.htm More information on Bombshock at TFU.info]''

===Adventure===
*'''Shrapnel''' ([[2015]]-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV17'''
:Shrapnel is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Shrapnel (G1)#Generations|Skrapnel]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a stag beetle.

*'''Bombshell''' (2015-[[May 30|05-30]])
**''ID number:'' '''TAV18'''
:Bombshell is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' [[Bombshell (G1)#Generations|Bombshell]]. It transforms into a robotic interpretation of a Japanese rhinoceros beetle.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Thrilling 30===
*'''Insecticon''' (Collectible Figurine, 2014)
**''Series / Number:'' '''2 / #25'''
**''Accessories:'' Collector's base
:A super-deformed Insecticon was released among the blindpacked [[Thrilling 30#Collectible Figurines|''Thrilling 30'' Collectible Figurines]] by [[Goldie Marketing]]. He comes with a base to help him stand, a collector's card that doubles as a puzzle piece, and a checklist.

*'''Collectible Figurines''' (5-pack, 2014)
**''Series:'' '''2'''
**''Accessories:'' 5 collector's bases
:The same Insecticon figurine was also available in a 5-pack alongside [[Bumblebee (WFC)/toys#Thrilling 30|Bumblebee]], [[Shockwave (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Shockwave]], [[Wheeljack (Prime)#Thrilling 30|Wheeljack]] and [[Soundwave (WFC)#Thrilling 30|Soundwave]].

{{--}}

==Notes==
*In the Japanese dub, the Insecticons are quite the Chatty Cathies. Voiced by [[Kensō Katō]], their numerous comedic asides recall his performances as ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspeeter]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Wasp]]inator.
*The ''Prime'' Insecticon design was used in the [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More Than Meets the Eye'' comic book]] as a generic member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s.
*In the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon, the sound an Insecticon makes is changed. Rather than a high pitched squeal like in ''Prime'', it is now a more low pitched roar. why

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Insecticon''' (インセクティコン ''Insekutikon'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Fall of Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Insecticons| Insecticon (WFC)]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Predacons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Prime subgroups]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron subgroups]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2015) subgroups]]

Eruption

2019-02-16T21:48:25Z

Starwis:

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Transformers: Cyberverse]]'' ep 18
|image=Eruption-AutobotsRollOut.jpg
|caption="The world will always need a Prime...but only if that Prime is ''you''."
|prev=Awaken Sleeping Giants
|next=
|title="Eruption"
|airdate=[[December 15]], [[2018]] (Singapore) [[December 28]], 2018 (CN app/website) [[December 29]], 2018 (USA)
|production company=[[Allspark Animation]]
|writer=[[Gavin Hignight]]
|animation studio=[[Boulder Media Studio]]
|director=[[Jean Texier]]
}}

'''The Autobot team must fight its way through Shockwave and his Decepticons to defend the Ark and awaken Optimus Prime and the other Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - Shockwaves Army.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Hope is meaningless."]]
At long last, the [[Autobot]]s have discovered the object of their quest, buried beneath [[Mount St. Hilary]]: the ''[[Ark (Cyberverse)|Ark]]!'' It's a joyous moment as the four heroes move in for a group hug, but the moment is not to last... as [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]] and his [[Decepticon]]s arrive in the cave, intent on destroying the ship and its occupants once and for all. Though [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] and his allies are outnumbered, they're unwilling to surrender, and charge into battle!

Bumblebee finds himself up against the vengeful [[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadow Striker]], who's all-too-eager to face off against Bumblebee, while [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] duels with [[Slipstream (Cyberverse)|Slipstream]], [[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]] deploys his ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' mode against the rest of the [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|Seeker]]s, and even [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]] finds himself up against one of [[Shockwave's drones]] as he tries to unlock the ship doors. In doing so, however, Teletraan-X helps Bumblebee temporarily take out Shadow Striker by dropping his foe on her face, giving Bumblebee the opening he needs to paralyze her with his [[stinger (weapon)|stinger]], and Bumblebee, in turn, helps Windblade out of a tight spot by dropping Slipstream while the Seeker's attention is elsewhere.

Ordering Bumblebee to get to the ship, Windblade takes on Shockwave herself, using her turbine powers to knock Shockwave flat. As the tide of battle turns against the Decepticons, Shockwave uses his [[alternate mode]] to scuttle away, much to the dismay of Shadow Striker...

In the meantime, Bumblebee has managed to get into the ''Ark'', and he and Teletraan-X make for the ship's hibernation bay. As Bumblebee examines the massive chamber, Teletraan-X makes a sad discovery: [[Teletraan-1 (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-1]] is no more, having suffered irreparable damage during the ship's crash on Earth. It's not all bad, however; Teletraan-X's sole purpose is to serve as a backup unit for Teletraan-1, and this means that he can use his own processor power to reboot the master computer. As he activates a computer jack and begins the transference process, however, he's interrupted by Shadow Striker, who shoots his lifeless body and sends it flying across the room!

Shadow Striker remains as eager for revenge as ever, and though Bumblebee is able to temporarily incapacitate her by hitting her with his vehicle mode, he's injured in the fight and pinned down by the patchwork Decepticon... until Grimlock intervenes, using his dino mode to throw her against the wall.

[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - Nemesis.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Every stage of my plan is beyond your comprehension."]]
Outside the mountain, Shockwave enacts his final contingency plan: by using his ship-mounted [[magnetic disruptor]], he'll trigger a volcanic eruption, destroying the ''Ark'' and killing everything inside the volcano when it erupts. But the magnetic beam firing into the volcano has some unexpected effects: the burst of lava allows an outnumbered Windblade to get the upper hand against the bewildered Seekers, while Grimlock does battle against Shadow Striker. Grimlock warns 'Bee that whatever he's doing in the ship, he needs to finish it, and ''fast'', but Bumblebee is too busy mourning over the fallen body of Teletraan-X to hear... until the ship's internal workings abruptly flare back to life!

Teletraan-X, now inhabiting the ''Ark's'' mainframe, informs Bumblebee that the transfer was a success, and that he now has direct access to the ship's subsystems... but that control is more than he bargained for, and the newly-uploaded AI has trouble shutting down the ship's [[stasis pod]]s. On the plus side, Teletraan-X is able to take direct control of the ''Ark's'' weapon systems, helping Windblade and Grimlock out of another tight spot with a series of powerful blasts, sending the Decepticons running, while Grimlock and Windblade make for the safety of the ''Ark'' as the lava begins to rain from the ceiling.

As Shockwave's ship flies away, the volcano erupts in earnest as its new computer struggles with the ship's functions; what Shockwave doesn't know, however, is that Teletraan has managed to activate the vessel's shields in the nick of time, saving the ''Ark'' and all inside. What's more, Teletraan has finally completed the wake-up sequence, deactivating the stasis pods. As the figures of Optimus Prime and the other Autobots rise from their stasis pods, Bumblebee rushes over to greet his leader with a hug as Grimlock greets his long-lost friends.

[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - Shockwave Cares Not.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"And to defend my becoming, from across the universe comes my army."]]
The reunion is short-lived, however; no sooner have the Autobots awakened before Teletraan-X cuts in with a ''new'' warning: the Decepticon fleet has arrived over Earth! As the Autobots race out of the ''Ark''—now partially exposed, poking out of the volcano's surface—they are greeted by the sight of Shockwave and his reinforcements, as a colossal Decepticon cruiser roars overhead, and so Optimus and the Autobots prepare for battle, the Autobot leader ordering his troops to [[roll out]].

The battle has begun!

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]] (3)
*[[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] (16)
*[[Arcee (Cyberverse)|Arcee]] (17)
*[[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Autobot]] soldiers (19)
*[[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] (20)
*[[Chromia (Cyberverse)|Chromia]] (21)
*[[Rack'n'Ruin (Cyberverse)|Rack'n'Ruin]] (22)

|c2=
*[[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]] (5)
*[[Acid Storm (Cyberverse)|Acid Storm]] (6)
*[[Thundercracker (Cyberverse)|Thundercracker]] (7)
*[[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadow Striker]] (8)
*[[Slipstream (Cyberverse)|Slipstream]] (9)
*[[Thrust (Cyberverse)|Thrust]] (10)
*[[Shockwave's drones]] (11)
*[[Nova Storm (Cyberverse)|Nova Storm]] (12)
*Generic [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|seekers]] (13-14)
*[[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] (15)

|c4=
* [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"Get us out of here! Now!" 
"I'm doing the best I can. I'll try everything!" 
-''upbeat polka music fills the ship as doors and lights switch on and off''- 
"Turn that music '''OFF!'''" 
:—'''Bumblebee''', '''Teletraan-X''', and '''Grimlock'''

"Autobots- ''roll out!''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' says it's on

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Shockwave previously attempted to use the [[magnetic disruptor]] to kill everything on Earth back in "[[The Extinction Event]]."
*Starscream's Decepticon armada was first alluded to in "[[Siloed]]" and reappeared in the previous episode, "[[Awaken Sleeping Giants]]."
*[[Rack'n'Ruin (Cyberverse)|Rack’n’Ruin]] made a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance in the final scene of the Autobots standing together; the pair previously appeared in "[[Sabotage]]" as members of the ''Ark's'' crew, but as that memory had been modified by Shockwave it was impossible to tell if the two Autobots ''actually'' served aboard the ''Ark''; this episode confirms that they did; presumably, then, so did [[Drift (Cyberverse)|Drift]].

===Transformers references===
[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - This looks familiar.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Everybody ready to—what's the phrase? 'Roll on out'?"]]
*Following the eruption of Mount St. Hilary, the ''Ark'' winds up having its engines exposed, sticking out of the side of the mountain, as they did in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|1984 cartoon]] (and as those of the ''[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Orion]]'' did in season 2 of ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''.)
*At the end of the episode, Grimlock is depicted as having a battle mask—a retractable visor and mouthplate—designed to make him look like his [[Grimlock (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===

===Animation and technical errors===
*Nova Storm still lacks the trim on her cockpit.
*Acid Storm is rendered with the male Seeker face, just like the [[Awaken Sleeping Giants|last episode]]; the nature of this as an error is debatable, as writer [[Mae Catt]] has stated changing heads is "just something Acid Storm likes to do".
*In some shots Shockwave appears to be distinctly ''blue'' (the same shade as Thundercracker), not purple.
*Grimlock has his battle mask and visor on, but the next shot immediately after, they are missing, with no indication they retracted.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Eruption'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 16]], 2018

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Im Vulkan'''" ("Inside the Volcano")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 26]], 2019

==Home video releases==
*TBA

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFCBKN6AaOI "Eruption" on YouTube] (US only)

[[Category:Cyberverse episodes]]

Eruption

2019-02-16T21:48:08Z

Starwis:

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Transformers: Cyberverse]]'' ep 18
|image=Eruption-AutobotsRollOut.jpg
|caption="The world will always need a Prim...but only if that Prime is ''you''."
|prev=Awaken Sleeping Giants
|next=
|title="Eruption"
|airdate=[[December 15]], [[2018]] (Singapore) [[December 28]], 2018 (CN app/website) [[December 29]], 2018 (USA)
|production company=[[Allspark Animation]]
|writer=[[Gavin Hignight]]
|animation studio=[[Boulder Media Studio]]
|director=[[Jean Texier]]
}}

'''The Autobot team must fight its way through Shockwave and his Decepticons to defend the Ark and awaken Optimus Prime and the other Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - Shockwaves Army.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Hope is meaningless."]]
At long last, the [[Autobot]]s have discovered the object of their quest, buried beneath [[Mount St. Hilary]]: the ''[[Ark (Cyberverse)|Ark]]!'' It's a joyous moment as the four heroes move in for a group hug, but the moment is not to last... as [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]] and his [[Decepticon]]s arrive in the cave, intent on destroying the ship and its occupants once and for all. Though [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] and his allies are outnumbered, they're unwilling to surrender, and charge into battle!

Bumblebee finds himself up against the vengeful [[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadow Striker]], who's all-too-eager to face off against Bumblebee, while [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] duels with [[Slipstream (Cyberverse)|Slipstream]], [[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]] deploys his ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' mode against the rest of the [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|Seeker]]s, and even [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]] finds himself up against one of [[Shockwave's drones]] as he tries to unlock the ship doors. In doing so, however, Teletraan-X helps Bumblebee temporarily take out Shadow Striker by dropping his foe on her face, giving Bumblebee the opening he needs to paralyze her with his [[stinger (weapon)|stinger]], and Bumblebee, in turn, helps Windblade out of a tight spot by dropping Slipstream while the Seeker's attention is elsewhere.

Ordering Bumblebee to get to the ship, Windblade takes on Shockwave herself, using her turbine powers to knock Shockwave flat. As the tide of battle turns against the Decepticons, Shockwave uses his [[alternate mode]] to scuttle away, much to the dismay of Shadow Striker...

In the meantime, Bumblebee has managed to get into the ''Ark'', and he and Teletraan-X make for the ship's hibernation bay. As Bumblebee examines the massive chamber, Teletraan-X makes a sad discovery: [[Teletraan-1 (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-1]] is no more, having suffered irreparable damage during the ship's crash on Earth. It's not all bad, however; Teletraan-X's sole purpose is to serve as a backup unit for Teletraan-1, and this means that he can use his own processor power to reboot the master computer. As he activates a computer jack and begins the transference process, however, he's interrupted by Shadow Striker, who shoots his lifeless body and sends it flying across the room!

Shadow Striker remains as eager for revenge as ever, and though Bumblebee is able to temporarily incapacitate her by hitting her with his vehicle mode, he's injured in the fight and pinned down by the patchwork Decepticon... until Grimlock intervenes, using his dino mode to throw her against the wall.

[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - Nemesis.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Every stage of my plan is beyond your comprehension."]]
Outside the mountain, Shockwave enacts his final contingency plan: by using his ship-mounted [[magnetic disruptor]], he'll trigger a volcanic eruption, destroying the ''Ark'' and killing everything inside the volcano when it erupts. But the magnetic beam firing into the volcano has some unexpected effects: the burst of lava allows an outnumbered Windblade to get the upper hand against the bewildered Seekers, while Grimlock does battle against Shadow Striker. Grimlock warns 'Bee that whatever he's doing in the ship, he needs to finish it, and ''fast'', but Bumblebee is too busy mourning over the fallen body of Teletraan-X to hear... until the ship's internal workings abruptly flare back to life!

Teletraan-X, now inhabiting the ''Ark's'' mainframe, informs Bumblebee that the transfer was a success, and that he now has direct access to the ship's subsystems... but that control is more than he bargained for, and the newly-uploaded AI has trouble shutting down the ship's [[stasis pod]]s. On the plus side, Teletraan-X is able to take direct control of the ''Ark's'' weapon systems, helping Windblade and Grimlock out of another tight spot with a series of powerful blasts, sending the Decepticons running, while Grimlock and Windblade make for the safety of the ''Ark'' as the lava begins to rain from the ceiling.

As Shockwave's ship flies away, the volcano erupts in earnest as its new computer struggles with the ship's functions; what Shockwave doesn't know, however, is that Teletraan has managed to activate the vessel's shields in the nick of time, saving the ''Ark'' and all inside. What's more, Teletraan has finally completed the wake-up sequence, deactivating the stasis pods. As the figures of Optimus Prime and the other Autobots rise from their stasis pods, Bumblebee rushes over to greet his leader with a hug as Grimlock greets his long-lost friends.

[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - Shockwave Cares Not.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"And to defend my becoming, from across the universe comes my army."]]
The reunion is short-lived, however; no sooner have the Autobots awakened before Teletraan-X cuts in with a ''new'' warning: the Decepticon fleet has arrived over Earth! As the Autobots race out of the ''Ark''—now partially exposed, poking out of the volcano's surface—they are greeted by the sight of Shockwave and his reinforcements, as a colossal Decepticon cruiser roars overhead, and so Optimus and the Autobots prepare for battle, the Autobot leader ordering his troops to [[roll out]].

The battle has begun!

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]] (3)
*[[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] (16)
*[[Arcee (Cyberverse)|Arcee]] (17)
*[[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Autobot]] soldiers (19)
*[[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] (20)
*[[Chromia (Cyberverse)|Chromia]] (21)
*[[Rack'n'Ruin (Cyberverse)|Rack'n'Ruin]] (22)

|c2=
*[[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]] (5)
*[[Acid Storm (Cyberverse)|Acid Storm]] (6)
*[[Thundercracker (Cyberverse)|Thundercracker]] (7)
*[[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadow Striker]] (8)
*[[Slipstream (Cyberverse)|Slipstream]] (9)
*[[Thrust (Cyberverse)|Thrust]] (10)
*[[Shockwave's drones]] (11)
*[[Nova Storm (Cyberverse)|Nova Storm]] (12)
*Generic [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|seekers]] (13-14)
*[[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] (15)

|c4=
* [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"Get us out of here! Now!" 
"I'm doing the best I can. I'll try everything!" 
-''upbeat polka music fills the ship as doors and lights switch on and off''- 
"Turn that music '''OFF!'''" 
:—'''Bumblebee''', '''Teletraan-X''', and '''Grimlock'''

"Autobots- ''roll out!''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' says it's on

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Shockwave previously attempted to use the [[magnetic disruptor]] to kill everything on Earth back in "[[The Extinction Event]]."
*Starscream's Decepticon armada was first alluded to in "[[Siloed]]" and reappeared in the previous episode, "[[Awaken Sleeping Giants]]."
*[[Rack'n'Ruin (Cyberverse)|Rack’n’Ruin]] made a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance in the final scene of the Autobots standing together; the pair previously appeared in "[[Sabotage]]" as members of the ''Ark's'' crew, but as that memory had been modified by Shockwave it was impossible to tell if the two Autobots ''actually'' served aboard the ''Ark''; this episode confirms that they did; presumably, then, so did [[Drift (Cyberverse)|Drift]].

===Transformers references===
[[File:Cyberverse - Eruption - This looks familiar.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Everybody ready to—what's the phrase? 'Roll on out'?"]]
*Following the eruption of Mount St. Hilary, the ''Ark'' winds up having its engines exposed, sticking out of the side of the mountain, as they did in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|1984 cartoon]] (and as those of the ''[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Orion]]'' did in season 2 of ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''.)
*At the end of the episode, Grimlock is depicted as having a battle mask—a retractable visor and mouthplate—designed to make him look like his [[Grimlock (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===

===Animation and technical errors===
*Nova Storm still lacks the trim on her cockpit.
*Acid Storm is rendered with the male Seeker face, just like the [[Awaken Sleeping Giants|last episode]]; the nature of this as an error is debatable, as writer [[Mae Catt]] has stated changing heads is "just something Acid Storm likes to do".
*In some shots Shockwave appears to be distinctly ''blue'' (the same shade as Thundercracker), not purple.
*Grimlock has his battle mask and visor on, but the next shot immediately after, they are missing, with no indication they retracted.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Eruption'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 16]], 2018

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Im Vulkan'''" ("Inside the Volcano")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 26]], 2019

==Home video releases==
*TBA

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFCBKN6AaOI "Eruption" on YouTube] (US only)

[[Category:Cyberverse episodes]]