Melee Beetle

Bio

As the common name suggests, these kaiju are known for engaging in combat with small kaiju, especially when they compete with other males for mates. They are also highly aggressive and territorial, as they will attack anything that crosses their path or enters their territory. These beetles are practically around the size of a Soldier Legion. They are widely feared for their aggressive behavior, but despite this, they are actually herbivores, as their diet consists mainly of greenery, and they will only be aggressive to humans if provoked. Melee Beetles primarily compete with Meganulon for food. They use their horns at the top of their heads and their stingers as means of use as weapons for self-defense and attacking. During the spring, the Melee Beetles act like periodical cicadas, as they march at night, and climb up the trees and hills of Mount Myoko. By morning, Mount Myoko is overrun by thousands of Melee Beetles. But fortunately, these kaiju are vulnerable, with a brutal predator coming at them: Gyaos. 

The Gyaos are the Melee Beetles' most common enemy, as they are often eaten by these creatures and have been fed to their young. However, the Melee Beetles do not fight back, and instead offer themselves to their attackers virtually. Once the Gyaos stop feeding, the survivors can achieve their purpose: mate. During the mating season, the males will collect supplies for their nest using their horns. And once the nest has been built, the males will compete with each other for a mate. When a male finds a mate, the pair will mate with each other and the female will lay her eggs. Afterwards, they will eventually die, and their corpses will be eaten by other kaiju.

Appearance

This kaiju species greatly resembles a cross between a Hercules beetle and a stag beetle. Their heads are shaped similarly to that of a Soldier Legion. The mouth is identical to that of Mothra's, while the eyes are red like Battra's. Their heads and legs are dark navy blue in color, their undersides are stone-gray, and their shells are colored dark green. The plates on the Melee Beetles' shells are reminiscent of that of Gamera (specifically the 1999 design), as the plates are spiky, they overlap, and the spikes from these plates extend over the edges of their shells, making them visible in their silhouettes. In addition, they have jagged edges on their leg femurs and a stinger at the end of their abdomens.