Insecticon (G1)

The name or term "Insecticon" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Insecticon (disambiguation).

The Insecticons are a Decepticon subgroup from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Not to be confused with the Incesticons, who we don't talk about.

The Insecticons are a group of insectoid troublemakers that Megatron trusts as far as he can throw Devastator. The Insecticons also display a wide array of unique abilities including eating both organic and inorganic matter for energy, creating clones of themselves, weather control, and cerebro-shells.

• The most commonly-seen group of Insecticons includes:
  • Shrapnel (usually the trio's leader)
  • Bombshell
  • Kickback

Named clones of this group include Salvo, Shothole, and Zaptrap.

• A second Insecticon team includes:
  • Venom (team leader)
  • Barrage
  • Chop Shop
  • Ransack

• Another group of Insecticons includes:
  • Buzzclaw
  • Dirge
  • the Virulent Clones

A failed batch of Insecticons became known as the Swarm. A lone member of the Swarm was domesticated and given the name Bob.

Fiction

The Transformers cartoon

Now I passed up all the chain franchise joints on Hamburger Row, and stopped at a little greasy spoon place I always eat at, called EAT.

Individualistic, greedy, and arrogant, the Insecticons consider themselves a species unto themselves and have only a tentative on-again/off-again alliance with the main Decepticon forces, mainly when Megatron can bribe them with the energon they need to maintain their clone hordes.

Shrapnel, Kickback, and Bombshell arrived on Earth in an escape pod millions of years ago. Landing in a swamp, their idento-computers gave them new alternate modes based on local insects. Eventually their food-raiding activities attracted the attention of both the Autobots and Decepticons, the latter approaching them with offers of alliance and shared purpose.

Reunited with their Decepticon comrades, the three warriors happily accepted an alliance, driving off the Autobots and participating in a raid on an oil refinery. They displayed the full range of their powers... as well as their willingness to clear out as soon as the tide of battle turned against the Decepticons. Devouring a batch of energon cubes, they abandoned the fight, prompting Megatron to pursue them into the distance, swearing vengeance. A Plague of Insecticons

You wanna know where paradise lies, I call it two triple cheeseburger, side order fries.

The Insecticons somehow survived, and were in the area when Megatron decided to pursue the electro-cells. The Insecticons aided the Decepticons in battle... and received a measly three energon cubes as a reward. The Autobot Mirage took advantage of their discontent, stealing the cubes and leaving a Decepticon insignia in their place. Soon, the Insecticons attacked the Decepticons in retribution. Mirage was injured in the battle, and cerebro-shelled into being an Insecticon slave. Megatron and Bombshell eventually worked out Mirage's deception, and used him to lure several Autobots into a trap. When the battle turned against them, Megatron destroyed the electro-cells, resulting in massive explosions which convinced the Insecticons to flee into the distance. Traitor

In an unusual instance of an Insecticon working solo, Bombshell joined Megatron's forces after they had captured the human-made Nightbird robot. He performed brain work on the robot to turn it into a Decepticon ally, and was quite impressed with its abilities. He later participated in a battle with the Autobots over the World Energy Chip. When Starscream disabled Nightbird with an energy blast to the back, Bombshell joined Megatron and the Decepticons in pursuing Starscream into the distance. Enter the Nightbird

Well don't you know that other kids are starving in Japan, so EAT IT, just EAT IT.

The Insecticons had been devouring trees in a National Park, prompting the Autobots to investigate. Megatron and his troops arrived in time to observe as the trio defeated Bumblebee, Hound and Beachcomber. Megatron approached them and proposed a temporary alliance to capture the data storage facility at Iron Mountain. As a reward, the Insecticons were first allowed to feast on the Nova Power Core, which allowed them to grow to great size and power. Quickly seizing the initiative, they cerebro-shelled Soundwave, taking control of him. Through him they learned of Megatron's plan to dispose of them after Iron Mountain's data was secure. Thus they covertly cerebro-shelled the rest of the Decepticons; when Megatron emerged from Iron Mountain, he found himself facing the guns of his own troops. The Autobots, meanwhile, had discovered that the Nova Power Core was unstable and would eventually cause the Insecticons to explode. They developed an antidote, and allied with Megatron to deliver it into the Insecticons. Bombshell and Kickback were cured and returned to their normal size, but Shrapnel exploded before the antidote could take full effect. The explosion also released the Decepticons from Bombshell's control. Bombshell was able to instantly reconstruct Shrapnel's shattered pieces. With an infuriated Megatron in hot pursuit, the Insecticons fled into the distance. The Insecticon Syndrome

I'm a hungry man, till somebody feeds me / my appetite is large, 'cause me so hungry!

The Insecticons went on a cloning spree, creating thousands of clones and raiding farmland to harvest energy. After driving off an Autobot attack led by Smokescreen, the Insecticons and their clone hordes flew to Decepticon Headquarters for energy processing. Megatron gave them their cut, consisting of three tiny energon cubes, while privately processing scads of full-sized cubes behind the scenes.

Our friend Megatron's in trouble.

If I weren't so hungry I'd stop to help him out! Haww haw haw!Kickback and Bombshell

Kickback drags Bombshell home after a trip to an all-you-can-eat buffet

When the Autobots acquired a robotic insecticide to deal with the swarm, Megatron sent Thrust to warn his erstwhile allies, but the Insecticons suspected that they were being deceived, and instead flew directly to the valley where the insecticide (along with the Autobot Cosmos), lay stranded. They gleefully ignored Megatron's Decepticons, who were being overwhelmed by the Autobots, and instead turned their attention to a delicious-looking forest, which Megatron was clearly trying to hoard for himself. Flying into the "forest", the Insecticons quickly discovered that it consisted of ravenous Morphobots, which promptly devoured the entire Insecticon army. Only the three originals escaped unharmed, though just barely; they fled, flying away into the distance. Quest for Survival

Another horde of Insecticon clones was ravaging a city when the Autobots rolled into town. After the Protectobots evacuated the city, the Autobots blasted the clones to scrap. When the Autobots attempted to seize control of the space bridge, Megatron had the Insecticons steal the bridge's control module. Later, faced with an Earth-destroying crisis that required cooperation with the Autobots as well as a trip to Cybertron, the Autobots and Decepticons tracked the Insecticons down to a parking garage. Shrapnel panicked at the sight of Megatron; the trio transformed and burrowed into the ground, leaving the control module behind and fleeing into the... ground. The Revenge of Bruticus

Sometimes you're the windshield, baby. Sometimes you're the bug.

Jettison Weight, Step 1: Remove those who eat the most

At some point, the Insecticons appeared to have joined Megatron's regular forces; they were on Cybertron after he conquered the planet, and joined in the raid on Autobot City, where they ate a lot of doors and armor, and got bashed around and run over quite a bit.

After the Battle of Autobot City, the three Insecticons found themselves battered and broken, and on the wrong end of the "weight" jettisoned from Astrotrain. All three appeared to be reformatted by Unicron into new bodies, though Shrapnel later menaced Daniel on the planet Junkion. The Transformers: The Movie

Kickback and Shrapnel were among the Decepticons seen struggling for energon on Chaar after the destruction of Unicron. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1 Later, all three Insecticons were among the Decepticons on Earth who assisted Trypticon in his assault on Metroplex. They got flattened by Sky Lynx. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

Marvel Comics continuity

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

The Decepticon warriors Bombshell, Shrapnel, Kickback, Dirge, Thrust, and Ramjet were seemingly high-ranking officers under the command of Lord Straxus, Lord High Governor of Polyhex. Shrapnel served as Straxus's Executive Officer, and was presented as a cruel, sadistic being, with no notable sign of a speech impediment. It was he that supervised the technicians who received—and eventually decoded—a transmission from Soundwave on Earth, and later he who was given the distinctly thankless task of assisting Straxus in the management of the space bridge project.

The six appeared to serve as Darkmount's security in some fashion, since Shrapnel personally captured the Autobot Scrounge and brought him to Straxus—and, later, after Blaster had been deliberately taken prisoner, it was Shrapnel who brought him before the tyrant in the space bridge construction hangar—only to be assaulted by a less-than-grateful Decepticon leader. Later, all six were observed flying into battle against Autobot intruders. The Smelting Pool! The Bridge to Nowhere!

At this point, the Insecticon trio transformed into forms which appeared to very closely resemble their later Earthen modes—albeit without any visible shifting of mass (i.e. Shrapnel is still the same size as in his robotic mode, as evidenced when he seizes hold of Scrounge). Later, during the attempt to assassinate Emirate Xaaron (itself in reality bait for the Wreckers' Operation: Volcano), Kickback does apparently reduce in size, so it's possible that the Insecticons already have this ability, but that it is optional, in the same way that Soundwave appears able to decide on a whim what size he wishes his alt-mode to be on any given day.

After the fall of Darkmount and the crippling of Straxus, the trio continued to be influential figures in the Cybertronian Decepticon Army, and were part of a battle unit regarded by the Autobots as being some of the Decepticons' Ten Deadliest Killers—specifically, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Kickback, Dirge, Thrust, Ramjet, Blitzwing, Octane, and Macabre—so much so, in fact, that Emirate Xaaron planned the dangerous Operation: Volcano to lure them into a deadly trap, believing that the extermination of this group would deliver a great psychological blow for the Resistance.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's allegiance, after Roadbuster had tricked a doomed Autobot traitor into passing on fake information to a typically murderous Shrapnel, Operation: Volcano began to fall apart as a result of events on Earth. First, Ultra Magnus was removed from the Wreckers' strike force to travel to Earth, and second, after Kickback had completed reconnaissance, Megatron himself contacted the Decepticon attack group and ordered the Insecticons to report to Earth—immediately. Unwilling to risk disobeying Megatron, everyone but Macabre returned to Polyhex. Target: 2006

Significantly, during these events, the trio are twice referred to as Insecticons by name, suggesting both that Cybertron does possess insect life, and that their forms are indeed already based upon it—an implication absent in the US strip.

The three Insecticons were sent to Earth via a repaired or rebuilt space bridge, where they fell under the command of Megatron, who altered them making minor modifications in order to allow them to transform into the likenesses of Earthside insects. Megatron intended to make use of the space bridge to revitalise Cybertron, by connecting a vast drilling pipe transdimensionally between Earth and a massive turbine and generator complex constructed on Cybertron, and drilling through Hoover Dam to do it. To this end, he utilised the Insecticons' unique talents—Bombshell used one of his Cerebro-shells to take the mind of one of the Dam's technical staff, Ricky Vasquez, Shrapnel's electrical powers were used to remote-operate the Dam's electrical machinery, and Kickback... kicked a door down.

When the Aerialbots on their first mission intervened, both the Insecticons and their three Strike Plane comrades, also having travelled to Earth, fared badly against them. Shrapnel's antennae were twisted, courtesy of Air Raid's torque rifle, and ultimately Ricky Vasquez's free will and love of his daughter were enough to allow him to overcome Bombshell's cerebro-shell entirely, pulling Megatron's trigger and destroying the drill. Battered, Shrapnel and Kickback somewhat unceremoniously carried a still fulminating Megatron off into the distance. Meanwhile, however, Bombshell, having seen an opportunity in his small insect-size, attached himself to the Aerialbot leader Silverbolt, and returned with him to the Ark in secret. Aerialbots over America!

Bombshell planted a cerebro-shell in the head of Optimus Prime, current head of the Earthbound Autobots. The shell failed to take full effect for unknown reasons, but did permit Megatron and Soundwave to tap into and monitor Optimus' thoughts—including the Creation Matrix. Thus, Bombshell was indirectly responsible for Megatron being able to give life to the Stunticons, and presumably (though it is never stated) the Combaticons as well. Heavy Traffic!

The point at which he left the Ark is unknown, but the trio continued to make sporadic appearances amongst the Decepticon forces until the Underbase Saga. Shrapnel notably used his electrical powers to remote-control the bridge of a cargo ship at one point, but beyond that, the trio seem to have faded into the background. Although not shown being deactivated or destroyed by Starscream during this conflict, they were still never seen again. They may have been taken out of action at this point, or possibly during the preceding inter-faction fighting. It is also possible that they simply chose to lie low for a while.

The Insecticons Chop Shop and Venom, although not specifically identified as Insecticons at any point in this continuity, were part of the Decepticons' original Mayhem Attack Squad, which was sent to Earth in fragile alliance with the Wreckers to hunt down and destroy Galvatron in late 1988-early 1989. Predictably, few of either group survived the encounter with the future Decepticon, and these Insecticons were apparently slaughtered—either by Galvatron or by the clone of Megatron with whom he had formed an alliance. As the story never presents a full roster of the Mayhem Attack Squad, it is possible that Ransack and Barrage were also members, but the numbers given make it impossible for them to have been also present and killed off-panel. Time Wars

During one alternate future, Shrapnel and Scavenger attempted to kill Daniel Witwicky on the planet of Junk in the year 2006,The Final Battle! but this particular timeline was rewritten when Galvatron time-travelled back to 1987 to escape Rodimus Prime. Target: 2006

Earthforce

These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See Earthforce for details.

Om nom nom.

The three original Insecticons were among the Decepticons recruited—and possibly reactivated—by Megatron on Earth during the Decepticon Civil War there, while Optimus Prime was focused on the approaching threat of Unicron. Although initially loyal to Megatron, they were bested in combat by Starscream—then theoretically under Shockwave's command—when he infiltrated Megatron's base. Starscream subdued the trio using an electrically charged flyswat known as a rustbug hoop—thereby proving the existence of Cybertronian insect life—and more or less blackmailed them into joining forces with himself and Soundwave in their plans to reunite both Earthbound Decepticon factions by disposing of Megatron and Shockwave and taking their place. Bugged!

Bombshell's cerebro-shells, now apparently grown somewhat more reliable, were used at least twice during this period—once to drive the Aerialbot gestalt Superion into running amok, Inside Story! and later to rewrite the memories of journalist Irwin Spoon, ensuring the continued success of Soundwave and Starscream's smear campaign against the Autobots. End of the Road!

Regeneration One

File:Soundwave Insecticons.jpeg

Twenty-one years after the regeneration of Cybertron, Soundwave ordered Venom, Ransack and Chop Shop to assassinate the insurgents Windrazor, Afterburner, Terradive and Eagle Eye, who were holed up in a Kalis weapons-decommissioning depot, threatening to detonate a clutch of reclaimed warheads. The Insecticons executed their mission with ease but were surprised in turn by the arrival of the "all-new, all-cuddly" Wreckers, who quickly restrained them inside a detention-sphere. Loose Ends, Part 1

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Shrapnel, Bombshell, and Kickback, along with Soundwave and Ravage, were sent by Megatron to assassinate the new Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. The War Within #2 They failed when Optimus royally kicked their asses. The War Within #3 In their Cybertronian modes, Shrapnel transformed into a jet, and while the others were not seen to transform, Bombshell appeared to have the parts to become a tank while Kickback looked to possibly transform into a type of dragster. The remaining Insecticons caused terror throughout Cybertron and joined Shockwave's attack on Iacon. Chop Shop was seen to transform into a wheeled vehicle (with pincers) while Venom became a jet. The War Within #3 The War Within #4 The War Within #5

And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth.

During the Dark Ages, the Insecticons split among the Decepticon splinter groups. Venom, Chop Shop, Ransack and Barrage joined the Ultracons, Escalation while Shrapnel, Bombshell, and Kickback remained with the Decepticons under Shockwave. Conflagration Although the Decepticon forces were eventually reunited, The Age of Wrath the former Ultracon Insecticons were reduced to vampirism, capturing Micromasters and draining them of energon. By this point, they looked to transform into their Earthen modes somehow. Recipe for Hate Victims of the Revolution

Meanwhile, Shrapnel, Bombshell, and Kickback sent to Earth by Shockwave after the Ark crash-landed on the planet. They were to guide Earth's development and prepare it for conquest (real logical choice there, Shockwave) but were followed by the Dynobots. We're not entirely sure of the sequence of events, but it appears that the Insecticons played dead until Grimlock and Slag got bored and wandered off. It's assumed they gained their insect forms around this time. Extermination

In the present day, after the fall of Shockwave's regime on Cybertron, War and Peace the Earthen Insecticons resurfaced in San Desto, taking control of the town and growing an army of Insecticon clones. Infestation A team of Autobots assisted by the Earth Defense Command managed to defeat them. Extermination

Descent into Evil

The remnants of the Insecticons had been widely dispersed, apparently lacking access to their cloning abilities. The Decepticon general Deathsaurus, seeking to provide the Decepticon/Predacon Alliance with the means to return the balance of power to their favor, established a research facility on Ceti Alpha Seven. In this lab, the surviving Insecticons Buzzclaw and Dirge were analyzed, and their genetic cloning ability unlocked once more. The resultant Virulent Clones fought against an Autobot team sent to destroy the base, but were ultimately destroyed along with their base, and possibly Buzzclaw. Descent into Evil

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers

Kickback was seen among Shockwave's troops as they waited for Ultra Magnus's force field to run out of power so they could capture the Autobots. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2

When a team of G.I. Joes and Cobra members were sent to a dark future where the Decepticons had conquered Earth, they were attacked by a swarm of Insecticon clones. Torch managed to deactivate them using an EMP grenade. G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #3

Later in the normal timeline, Shrapnel, Venom, Ransack and Barrage were seen under Serpent O.R.'s command, fighting back against a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe assault. The Art of War #5

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Kickback was around at the dawn of the Decepticon movement. Megatron Origin #4 A thing called Bombshell was used years and years ago by Soundwave to brainwash Beachcomber. The Autobots do not appear to have been familiar with Bombshell's existence. Spotlight: Blaster

During the war, Venom, Barrage and Chop Shop hunted for the titan Metroplex under Bludgeon's command, The Hunting Party while Ransack was stationed elsewhere. Spotlight: Sixshot

Years and years later, Insecticons were created on Cybertron in great numbers. However, the vast majority of them were failures, with only three fully functional individuals; Shrapnel and... Kickback and Bombshell. Er. All Hail Megatron #7 The rest, dubbed "The Swarm" were left on the planet when it was abandoned. All Hail Megatron #6 Shortly after their birth, the Insecticons joined the Decepticon force on Earth, taking part in both the defeat of the Autobot forces there, All Hail Megatron #7 the conquest of New York, All Hail Megatron #1 and having to listen to Megatron waffle. All Hail Megatron #4 Assaulting Beijing with Skywarp and Thundercracker, they quickly agitated Skywarp by telling him the Seekers were no longer the elite warriors of the Decepticons, replaced by newer warriors, like the Constructicons. This nearly caused Skywarp, and by proxy Thundercracker, to attack them. All Hail Megatron #6

In New York, the Insecticons were later approached by Starscream, who recruited them for his plan to overthrow Megatron. All Hail Megatron #8 When they acted on this betrayal, however, Megatron defeated all three of them with little effort. All Hail Megatron #10 The Insecticons would then find themselves in a battle with European military and the returning Autobots All Hail Megatron #11, ending with the defeat of Megatron. All Hail Megatron #12 Starscream then took control and retreated from Earth onboard Astrotrain with a bunch of his troops, including the Insecticons. Uneasy Lies the Head

Starscream's Decepticons would next find themselves living on a desolate asteroid base, running low on fuel while their leader did absolutely nothing for several years. Shrapnel and Kickback were seen actively participating in cannibalism, killing Dreadwind and stealing his parts. All His Engines Bombshell and Shrapnel later unsuccessfully tried to defend the base from Hot Rod's infiltration. Heart Like a Wheel Once Megatron was back in command, he summoned the Insecticons and his other troops to Cybertron, where D-Void brainwashed them into serving as components of the "Deceptigod". Kings

Following the defeat of the monster and the repopulation of Cybertron, the war was considered over and the Decepticons, including Shrapnel, Bombshell and Ransack, ended up having to work for the Autobots. Stick Together City on Fire Bombshell was a major player in Megatron's new plan to conquer Cybertron, using his cerebro-shells to take control of Prowl and create a new Devastator. Devisive Before the Dawn He was then killed by Arcee during the ensuing battle over the planet. Plan for Everything

Meanwhile in space, Venom, Barrage and Chop Shop became members of Lockdown's Titan Hunters, The Reluctant Specialist and were later joined by Ransack. The Fecund Moon

Several insect-themed Decepticons, including Waspinator, "V3" and "Den-O", have been seen serving alongside the Deluxe Insecticons during their titan hunts, but have not been confirmed to be Insecticons.

Hearts of Steel

Kickback, Bombshell and Shrapnel fought the Autobots on Earth in ancient times, then went into stasis to avoid an Ice Age and didn't wake up until the 19th century. They fell under the command of Starscream. Hearts of Steel #1 In order to get Tobias Muldoon the funding he needed to build the Decepticons a base, Starscream sent the Insecticons to rob a train carrying cash and bullion from the Denver Mint. Taking on a combined train mode, they knocked the train off the rails and stole the money, although they didn't see the value in weak metal and sheets of paper. They delivered the stolen property to Starscream and Muldoon the following morning. Hearts of Steel #2 The Insecticons were later seen aiding in the construction of more Decepticons, including the Astrotrain, in preparation of the Decepticons' master plan. Hearts of Steel #3

Mars Attacks: The Transformers

Shrapnel, Kickback and Bombshell were among the Decepticon forces who formed an alliance with the Autobots during a Martian invasion. They saved Ironhide and Jazz from some of the Martians' giant ants. Mars Attacks: The Transformers

Games

Transformers Legends

Kickback, Hardshell, and Sharpshot rebelled from Megatron's rule and began consuming GM crops. Their imminent clone army threatened to spell doom for Earth until their plan was foiled by an alliance of Autobots and Decepticons. Harvest of the Insecticons Venom, Barrage, and Chop Shop attempted to thwart the secret Autobot commando unit known as the Bee Team. The Bee Team Sharpshot, Hardshell and Kickback attacked Ultra Magnus after the Autobot commander brought Wreck-Gar and Wheelie to Earth. Junkion Reunion

Toys

File:G1Shrapnel toy.jpg

Shrapnel, Shrapnel

Generation 1

• Insecticons (1985)
  • Bombshell
  • Kickback
  • Shrapnel

The Insecticons were sold in small boxed packages at the $6 price point in 1985 and 1986. They are Diaclone-origin toys, retaining the vestigial "cockpits" common to such toys. They are decorated in a standard color scheme dominated by black, with purple, yellow, and silver chrome hightlights.

Barrage

• Deluxe Insecticons (1985)
  • Barrage
  • Chop Shop
  • Ransack
  • Venom

The four Deluxe Insecticons were originally designed by Takatoku Toys for the Armored Insect Battalion Beetras (機甲虫隊ビートラス) toyline, likely explaining their near-total absence from vintage Generation 1 fiction. They feature larger size and greater complexity than the standard Insecticons. Their color scheme is not unified.

Action Master Bombshell

• Decoys (1987)
  • Bombshell
  • Kickback
  • Shrapnel

• Action Masters (1990)
  • Bombshell

• e-HOBBY (2004)
  • Salvo
  • Shothole
  • Zaptrap

e-HOBBY exclusive redecos of Bombshell, Kickback, and Shrapnel, respectively.

Timelines

File:VirulentClonestimelines.jpg

A Virulent Clone

• Descent into Evil (2005)
  • Buzzclaw
  • Dirge

• Convention attendee bonus toys (2005)
  • Virulent Clone

All the Timelines Insecticons are redecos of the Beast Wars Buzzclaw mold, manufactured for BotCon 2005.

Universe (2008)

• Insecticons (Commemorative Edition three pack, 2009)

Includes the Insecticons Hardshell, Kickback, and Sharpshot. These are reissues of the original Insecticons Bombshell, Kickback, and Shrapnel.

Merchandise

Robot Heroes

The mind is his playpen, and now he's IN the playpen.

• Rodimus vs. Insecticon (Shrapnel, renamed due to trademark issues) (2007)
• Ironhide vs. Kickback (2008)
• Perceptor vs. Hardshell (Bombshell, renamed due to trademark issues) (2008)

Notes

• The exact meaning of the scene explaining the Insecticons' origin in the cartoon is not clear. Megatron says that the Insecticons' escape pod was launched "before our own ship crashed here millions of years ago". One might reasonably take this to mean that the Insecticons were aboard Megatron's ship; however, upon meeting Megatron a few scenes later, Shrapnel says to him "I don't know you", implying that they weren't aboard Megatron's ship. The summary of the episode in the production bible clarifies this, saying the pod "... was originally part of the Decepticon spacecraft that jettisoned away just before the Autobots and Decepticons crash landed on Earth". Guess Shrapnel was feeling conveniently forgetful-forgetful that day.
• The Insecticons' appearances in both The Movie and season 3 are the subject of much fan debate. In most cases, the Insecticons were specifically called for, by name, in the episode scripts, while conversely, the script for the movie did not specifically call for them to be recreated by Unicron, indicating that in actuality, it is the movie, rather than all subsequent material, that was at fault in its depiction of the fates of the characters. In attempt to make some sense of things, many fans turn to the Insecticons' cloning abilities for a possible explanation, suggesting it was either clones that were transformed, or clones that were seen later. Neither theory really works: only the original three Insecticons were seen during the battle at Autobot City, and the Insecticon clones had never before displayed any sentience (as did the Insecticons on Astrotrain prior to being jettisoned, and the Insecticons that were shown later on). The idea does provide a cute fanon explanation for the seemingly-endless supply of Sweeps, though.

Kickback would totally mack that.

• According to the data unlocked with their Cyber Key Code, the Terrorcon Scrapmetal have a connection to the Insecticons. What this connection is, however, is unknown.
• A fifth transforming robot insect, called Beet-Papil, was featured in the fiction surrounding Takatoku's Beetras toyline. Whether Takatoku ever meant to make Beet-Papil as a toy is uncertain, particularly since the line came out shortly before the company's demise. In addition to her, a transforming butterfly and firefly can be seen in some of the Beetras merchandise and designs for a transforming bee figure were found among a cache of Beetras concept art. Whether these would also have gotten toys had the company not bankrupted is unknown.
• Given that every insectformer in Generation 1 is an Insecticon, it is perhaps interesting that one of the Micromaster Satellite Penitentiary inmates in the Victory cartoon appears to have an insect altmode.
• The command structure of the Insecticons is a little... difficult to work out. Venom is considered the overall leader, yet has never appeared fictionally in charge of the group. Shrapnel seemed in charge in early appearances, and is confirmed as the leader of the trio in the Dreamwave continuity. However, Bombshell seemed to take over the role as the story progressed (he was easily given the most focus, a trait usually reserved for sub-group commanders); in Dreamwave it is suggested he is trying to take control away from Shrapnel and he is clearly the spokesperson for the team in the IDW continuity.
• Excluding a few storybook micro-continuities, the Deluxe Insecticons hadn't actually been depicted with insect modes in any fiction until Regeneration One.

Foreign names

• Japanese: Insectron (インセクトロン Insekutoron)
• Hebrew: Harakrikim
• Hungarian: Álcarovarok ("Decepticon-insects"), Rovarrágók ("Insect-mandibles" or "Insect-chewers", animated movie's 1st dub)
• Italian: Mini-Insectors
• Portuguese: Insecticus (Brazil comic), Inseticons (Brazil comic)

External links

• Armored Insect Batallion Beetras at Diaclone.net
• Armored Insect Batallion Beetras at Toyboxdx.com