Yanma and Yanmega

Yanma
The Clear Wing Pokémon
Type: Bug/Flying
Official Registration #: 193
Entry: A large, dragonfly-like pokémon first discovered in the Johto region. Yanma is notorious for its flying abilities. Not only is it capable of seeing a full 360 degrees around itself (allowing it to analyze all potential flight paths and navigate around obstacles all at once), but its unique wing design also allows it to fly at high speeds, maneuver around sharp turns, and stop and hover in mid air. The first and last of those abilities—that is, the impressive flying speed, in combination with its ability to stop at a moment’s notice—are unique in the pokémon world and give yanma an edge when chasing down prey, fleeing from predators, and stopping to turn and fire a Sonic Boom at researchers attempting to approach it from behind.

Yanmega
The Ogre Damer Pokémon
Type: Bug/Flying
Official Registration #: 469
Entry: The evolved form of yanma, by battle experience, if the subject knows Ancient Power. Every part of this gargantuan insect pokémon is powerful. Its mandibles are capable of snapping through femurs, its wings can generate gusts of wind potent enough to uproot trees, and its six spindly legs are strong enough to pick up and carry an adult man. Incidentally, should anyone wonder where the author was for a week shortly after his first visit to Unova’s Pinwheel Forest—one of the few places wild yanmega can be found—the answer is “the hospital,” and quite obviously, this is an entirely irrelevant note that has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with any of these facts about yanmega or the above entry concerning yanma.

Heracross

Heracross
The Single Horn Pokémon
Type: Bug/Fighting
Official Registration #: 214
Entry: A massive, beetle-like pokémon first discovered in the Johto region. Known for its massive horn, heracross are capable of valiantly defending their territories and beloved honey trees by slipping said horn beneath an enemy and flinging them away. However, despite this habit, heracross are normally docile pokémon; it’s only when eating honey—its favored food—that a trainer should beware of being attacked. Interestingly enough, despite its absolute love for honey, it is not a good idea to offer it some in an attempt to establish a rapport with it. Rather, this is an excellent way to guarantee that the heracross you’re attempting to befriend will slam its horn into your stomach, lift you up, and throw you directly into a tree before taking the entire pot of honey for itself.

Kricketot and Kricketune

Kricketot
The Cricket Pokémon
Type: Bug
Official Registration #: 401
Entry: A small, cricket-like pokémon first discovered in the forests of Sinnoh. Kricketot’s bulbous antennae are actually hollow but configured in just the right way that when struck together, they create the xylophone sound the species is known for. As kricketot are most active in the late summer and early fall, this melodious, xylophone-like sound is considered to be the sign that autumn (or “fall” in the Sinnohan dialect) is quickly approaching. When walking through the forests of Sinnoh in early autumn, pay particularly close attention to the way the melody sounds. If it’s smooth and deliberate, with consistently timed tones, then you may be overhearing two or more kricketot conversing with one another. If, however, the sound is chaotic, loud, and ends abruptly, it could be that the unfortunately short kricketot had stumbled over its own stubby legs and struck its antennae together by sheer accident as it fell. It’s interesting to note that one of these types of sounds tends to be more frequent than the other, and suffice to say, there is very likely a reason why Sinnohans call autumn “fall,” other than because of their leaves.

Kricketune
The Cricket Pokémon
Type: Bug
Official Registration #: 402
Entry: The evolved form of kricketot, by battle experience. Kricketune is just as famous for its melodies as its pre-evolved form, but unlike its pre-evolved form, a kricketune produces its tones by rubbing its knife-like front legs together across its violin-like chest. The end result is a rapid, surprisingly variable sound related directly to their emotions. In other words, kricketune have the ability to convey their emotions through differences in their sound patterns. Tamed kricketune have a tendency to “sing” with quick, energetic waltz that indicates their happiness or contentment. Kricketune that have been separated from their mates or trainers will “sing” in slow, dark minuets or sonatas—sometimes even a dirge. Finally, wild kricketune that have just been startled usually respond with an avant garde “deleleleWHOOOP” … shortly before executing X-Scissor into the hapless researcher’s back as it leaps unexpectedly from the nearby tall grasses.

Joltik and Galvantula

Joltik
The Attaching Pokémon
Type: Bug/Electric
Official Registration #: 595
Entry: A tiny, arachnid-like pokémon first discovered in the magnetic caves of Unova. Joltik’s small, furry body is incapable of generating electricity, so instead, it latches onto larger beings and picks up static electricity from them. It’s important for trainers to check themselves after leaving caves because of this. Although joltik normally latch onto pokémon, they can’t always tell the difference between pokémon and humans, and their tiny size often makes it easy to overlook them. One good way of detecting joltik is by wearing dark clothing when you travel through caves, as their neon-yellow bodies will often stand out against dark backgrounds. Another way, of course, is waiting until you’re randomly electrocuted. At that point, there’s usually a very good chance that you’re unknowingly carrying a joltik.

Galvantula
The EleSpider Pokémon
Type: Bug/Electric
Official Registration #: 596
Entry: The evolved form of joltik, by battle experience. This large, tarantula-like pokémon hunts by weaving an electrically-charged web in its domain. When prey stumbles into this web, the charge instantly paralyzes them long enough for the galvantula to crawl down, bind them in an electrically-charged cocoon, and bite them to liquefy their organs enough for later consumption. Needless to say, this is a brilliant hunting strategy in the wild. When tamed, however … not so much.

The Venipede Line

Venipede
The Centipede Pokémon
Type: Bug/Poison
Official Registration #: 543
Entry: An aggressive, centipede-like pokémon native to dark, moist forest floors. Because this pokémon may charge, trainers are advised to take extreme caution if they spot one. Even the smallest scratch from either venipede’s needles or mouthparts can paralyze the large, avian pokémon that prey on it. Granted, it simply causes a localized numbness in human limbs, but let’s just say that it starts off as a literal ankle-biter and then invites its entire swarm to carry on from there.

Whirlipede
The Curlipede Pokémon
Type: Bug/Poison
Official Registration #: 544
Entry: The evolved form of venipede, by battle experience. This pokémon is literally just a wheel studded with venomous spikes. Because it’s not enough for this evolution line to simply paralyze its predators with a venomous bite; they also have to drive themselves into these unfortunate avians (and observing researchers) at high speeds. Luckily, researchers have retaliated by giving it possibly the punniest species designation we have ever been able to consciously muster. Because some of us are petty, and nature is a wondrous thing.

Scolipede
The Megapede Pokémon
Type: Bug/Poison
Official Registration #: 545
Entry: The evolved form of whirlipede, by battle experience. The claws on this giant centipede’s neck are extremely strong: when they grip prey, they never let go. Instead, they crush the prey gradually until it stops moving, at which point scolipede poisons them with its giant, venom-coated horns. Should anyone wish to bring up the fact that this may be overkill, please note that the average scolipede is over eight feet tall, 442 pounds, extremely fast, murderously aggressive, and vastly interested in hearing you tell it how to live its life.

Ledyba and Ledian

Ledyba
The Five Star Pokémon
Type: Bug/Flying
Official Registration #: 165
Entry: A small, ladybug-like pokémon first discovered in the forests of Johto. Ledyba are actually notoriously timid. When one is separated from the rest of its swarm, it will lock up and drop to the ground, unable to move. At all times, it secretes a pleasant aroma in order to alert its fellow ledyba to its location and emotional condition; this scent causes ledyba to swarm around its kin until it feels comfortable enough to join them. Incidentally, it should be noted that this tactic does not work the same way for humans. Please note that spraying oneself copiously with cologne will, in fact, illicit the exact opposite response from anyone who surrounds you. The author may or may not know this from experience.

Ledian
The Five Star Pokémon
Type: Bug/Flying
Official Registration #: 166
Entry: The evolved form of ledyba, by battle experience. Because of ledian’s association with the stars (namely, that it gathers starlight for energy), some cultures believe this to be a highly lucky pokémon. Other cultures take ledian’s diminutive stature and affinity for starlight to be symbols of childhood. And still others, on some corners of the internet, “ship” ledian with the traditional symbol of bad luck, black purrloin, for reasons the author is sure makes sense in context, but he would rather not ask his magical girl-loving little sister for further clarification.

Surskit and Masquerain

Surskit
The Pond Skater Pokémon
Type: Bug/Water
Official Registration #: 283
Entry: The tips of this water strider-like pokémon’s feet are coated with an oil that assists in keeping surskit afloat. This trait works in combination with its long legs, which distributes the weight of its relatively light body in just the precise way to make it next to impossible for surskit to sink on its own. Consequently, no matter what it does—from hunting to sleeping to jetting along at full speed—so long as all four feet are spread out and in contact with just the surface of the water, surskit will be able to stay afloat. This, of course, makes surskit’s mating rituals some of the most scientifically interesting in Hoenn, seeing as surskit do this while floating as well.

Masquerain
The Eyeball Pokémon
Type: Bug/Flying
Official Registration #: 284
Entry: The evolved form of surskit, by battle experience. The second thing lanternfly-like pokémon is known for is its ability to hover and fly in any direction, thanks to its four wings. This enables masquerain to escape danger in any direction at great speeds. Of course, it hardly needs that skill, thanks to the first thing it’s known for: the giant eyespots on its specialized antennae, which give it the appearance of a menacing face. In dark or foggy conditions, this face can startle to death predators, prey, and most half-asleep researchers who came to study the mating rituals of their preevolved forms. (For science, of course.)

Paras and Parasect

Paras
The Mushroom Pokémon
Type: Bug/Grass
Official Registration #: 46
Entry: The mushrooms that grow on the backs of these small, mite-like pokémon are called tochukaso (not to be confused with caterpillar fungus, which is also known as tochukaso among the people of Johto, Kanto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh). In East Asian medicine—particularly in the Tibetan, Indian, and Chinese traditions—tochukaso that are gathered and dried may be powdered and included in pastes, teas, and other recipes that either cure or alleviate a wide variety of ailments. (This process does not harm the paras, and in fact, the mycelium of their mushroom system is usually left intact, meaning the fruiting bodies may regrow within a few days.) Contrary to popular belief, despite its status as a keystone for traditional medicine, tochukaso is not a psychedelic. It is, however, mildly poisonous when consumed raw and may lead to acute stomach pains, nausea, and vomiting. Also contrary to popular belief, the author does not know this from experience.

Parasect
The Mushroom Pokémon
Type: Bug/Grass
Official Registration #: 47
Entry: The evolved form of paras, by battle experience. Upon evolution, the paras mite’s mind is wholly suppressed by the mushroom growing on its back. If left to its own devices, the mushroom will puppeteer its mite host from one food source to another, typically the sap-rich trees of the Safari Zone or the mineral-rich salt deposits within the cave systems of Johto and Kanto. If tamed, however, the mushroom may be placated with pokémon kibble, but it will likely prefer virtually anything that can rot, from old food to gym socks. Trainers should note, however, that using your pokémon as garbage disposals is not exactly harmful but still not a habit that the author particularly recommends.

Venonat and Venomoth

Venonat
The Insect Pokémon
Type: Bug/Poison
Official Registration #: 48
Entry: A large, mite-like pokémon native to dark forests. Its massive, red eyes function like radar devices and are capable of seeing through the densest fog and the darkest nights to locate the smallest prey. Likewise, its long antennae are capable of registering even the slightest hints of heat and vibration around it. Moreover, its thick, purple hair is coated with a potent venom capable of paralyzing prey on contact, and its fangs are sharp enough to deliver a killing blow and draw out blood instantly. And for the umpteenth time, despite the fact that it’s a purple bug-type with red eyes and long antennae, it is not in any way related to butterfree.

Venomoth
The Poison Moth Pokémon
Type: Bug/Poison
Official Registration #: 49
Entry: The evolved form of venonat, by battle experience. Also a highly aptly named pokémon, as with every flap of its wings, it lets loose a storm of poisonous dust that’s not only potent but also extremely difficult to remove. The color of its wings indicate what type of poison venomoth carries—be it caustic, a neurotoxin, or something else—but from the author’s personal experiences, he feels it’s safe to say that all of its possible colors indicate the fact that standing beneath a venomoth is a horrendous idea.

The Nincada Line

Nincada
The Trainee Pokémon
Type: Bug/Ground
Official Registration #: 290
Entry: For most of its life, this larval pokémon hatches and lives underground, where it feeds on nutrient-rich roots in preparation for its evolution. However, because of its primarily subterranean lifestyle, the species is also largely blind, relying on sensory information transmitted to its antennae to navigate. Needless to say, removing one from its native habitat to study it in a well-lit, above-ground laboratory is … perhaps not the best of ideas, no.

Ninjask
The Ninja Pokémon
Type: Bug/Flying
Official Registration #: 291
Entry: The evolved form of nincada, by battle experience. Ninjask is known for two things. First, its speed: it moves at a lightning-fast pace, sometimes even to a point where it becomes too fast to observe by the human eye. Second, it’s a stubborn and proud pokémon and will happily express its displeasure with a command by crying loudly, at volumes that could damage a human’s hearing. In other words, ninjask is better known as “that one pokémon you may be tempted to train due to its competitive, speed-based abilities, except you will very likely regret attempting to train it due to everything else about it.”

Shedinja
The Shed Pokémon
Type: Bug/Ghost
Official Registration #: 292
Entry: The husk of a nincada, left behind upon its evolution. Despite being made of a thin chitin, this terrifying pokémon possesses an ability that renders it invulnerable to everything but fire, ghost, dark, and flying elemental abilities, as well as indirect attacks. Additionally, it does not apparently possess a soul, and perhaps because of this, the strange forces that animate it are said to suck in the souls of anyone who looks into the cavity on its back. Luckily, whenever sending this pokémon out to battle—given the amount of time it may take for an opponent to defeat your shedinja, as well as the position of your pokémon relative to you during a match—staring directly into the hole that will suck out your spirit is nigh inevitable.