05x18 - Hercules - The Giant Beetle

[bunniefuu]

[Martin] From central
to South America,

in the tropical regions

where temperatures are warm,
lives a unique insect.

Hey it's us, the Kratt brothers.

- I'm Martin.
- I'm Chris.

And we're here at Ottawa's

[Chris] Museum of Nature,

[Martin] to check out
some amazing beetles.

There are Hercules beetles.

These beetles are huge.

In fact, one of
the largest beetles

in the world,

[Martin] with these
hard armor bodies.

Oh, that one's a tough guy.

And check out their
most obvious feature,

[Chris] those awesome horns.

Now, they look kind of
like pinchers or jaws,

but they're not.

Their jaws are
actually underneath,

right down here.

And their horns can get
longer than their body.

Look, this guy has
horns this long,

and his body is only that long.

Look how much longer they are.

This guy is cool,
hey and he's brown.

[Martin] Yours is
more like, olive green.

[Chris] Yeah, totally
different colour.

[Martin] That's because
Hercules beetles

get different colours

depending on the temperature
within which they develop.

[Chris] Hercules beetles
are part of a whole

group of horned beetles,

and all of them
have serious horns.

[Chris] This is an Atlas beetle.

And you can see that his horns
are completely different.

Two on the top and
one on the bottom.

And check out that hook,

it's like a rhino horn.

[Chris] In fact, this
whole group of beetles

is sometimes referred to as

rhino beetles.

So what do they do with
these massive horns?

That's where their creature
power really comes in.

Imagine if we had
Hercules beetle power...

[Both] What if?

(theme song)

♪ On adventure with
the coolest creatures

♪ From the oceans to the trees

♪ The brothers Kratt are going
places you never get to see

♪ Hanging with
their creature friends

♪ Get ready it's the hour

♪ We're gonna save
some animals today with

♪ Creature power

♪ Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts

♪ Gonna go wild wild Wild Kratts

♪ Wild Kratss
Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts

♪ Gonna go wild wild wild

♪ Cheetah speed and lizard glide

♪ Falcon flight and lion pride

♪ Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts

♪ Gonna go wild wild Wild Kratts

♪ Wild Kratts
Gonna go wild with Wild Kratts

♪ Gonna go wild wild Wild Kratts

♪ Go wild wild Wild Kratts

(background music)

[Chris] Hercules,
The Giant Beetle.

[Chris] Okay Martin,
we're in the right place.

The Central American rainforest.

Now, let's see if my plan works.

Hey Chris, who's your
favourite character from

ancient Greek mythology?

What? Bro, I could use some
help attracting these creatures.

Mine's Poseidon.

[Martin] In the stories,
he rules the oceans

and all of the sea animals.

Well, you are the
swimming brother.

I'd have to go with Hercules.

He's the one with all
the strength and power.

Oh yeah, Hercules, whoa.

[Martin] He went on
a lot of adventures too.

Exactly, and since we're
supposed to be on an adventure,

looking for Hercules beetles,

he's my favourite.

[Chris] Beetle pheromone on.

Like, a lot of insects,

[Chris] beetles communicate
by smelly signals

called pheromones.

So hopefully, this
will attract a Hercules.

And with my Raptor
Vision bino's,

I'll have the keen
eyesight to spot one.

[Chris] Here, beetle,
beetle, beetle.

Incoming monster beetle!

Ahhh! (crash)

Wow, this is a monster beetle.

One of the largest types of
beetle in the whole world.

Hello,
Hercules beetle.

Thanks for coming when I called.

We gotta name
you, Hercules!

[Martin] It's such
a cool name already!

Hercules! The Hercules beetle.

[Chris] Because not
only are they big,

but they're super strong too.

And how about
those massive horns?

That's where their
power really comes in.

Oh yeah, if only we could
see their strength and power

in action.

If we stick with
him, we just might.

[Aviva] Hold still.

That's right, don't move.

[Aviva] I love this Atlas beetle
and his other fellow beetles.

They all have awesome
differently shaped horns

on their heads.

[Koki] Yup, Atlas beetle,
Hercules beetle, rhino beetle,

elephant beetle.

All members of the
Scarabaeidae family.

Well, this Atlas beetle,
we collected in Asia.

Plus, the one Chris
and Martin find,

are going to help me
figure out how to make

super indestructible
shells for all my robotics.

The secret is in
the exoskeleton.

exoskeleton?
(Jimmy sips)

Yeah, it's his hard outer shell.

See, you have
a regular skeleton.

Please, can a regular
skeleton do moves like this?

Save it for the
Halloween party.

Now, insects don't
have bony skeletons.

[Aviva] Instead, they just have
a super hard, outer shell.

The exoskeleton.

[Jimmy Z] Cool.

Okay, time to get back to work.

Jimmy, do you have
those supplies for the

prototype we need to build?

I'm on it.

[Koki] The prototype's gonna
have to be strong to match

the Atlas beetle.

After all, this beetle
was named after Atlas,

[Koki] the mythological god who
carried the world on his back.

I know how that guy
must have felt.

I could really use an
exoskeleton right now.

Ooof!

(Aviva and Koki laugh)

Everything looks different

when you get down
in this beetle world.

[Chris] Look,
Hercules found a friend.

It's a female Hercules beetle.

A girl beetle.

[Martin] Woah,
she looks different.

Females don't have those
big, massive front horns,

like the males do.

Those massive horns are for the
special battles the male beetles

have to defend their territory.

[Chris] Uh oh,
here comes trouble.

Another male beetle!

Uh oh, we could be in for

an epic beetle battle here.

[Chris] Listen, he's
rubbing his wing covers

against his body.

That sound is a challenge,
he wants to battle!

Will Hercules accept
the challenge?

Oh yeah, he accepts.

[Martin] This beetle
battle is on!

We're witnessing the
famous horn battle behaviour

of the largest horn
beetle in the world.

[Chris] The first
move, the horn lock!

That's why the beetles
have the massive grabbing,

grappling horns.

[Martin] They lock up and
push with all their might,

trying to overpower each other.

[Chris] Each trying to prove
he's the mightier beetle.

Ooo, Hercules is trying to lift
his challenger off the ground.

[Martin] But he can't!

That's the object of
these beetle battles.

[Chris] Whoever can lift
the other guy into the air,

wins.

They twist and heave
with all their strength.

[Martin] Oh, now the other
guy is making his move.

These beetles are super
powerful for their size.

They are the strongest
insect in the world.

Go Hercules, go!

You can do it!

Oh yeah!

I gotta get a
closer look at this.

[Chris] I'm going
beetle size, Martin.

Deploy miniaturizer!

[Martin] Uh oh, Chris wait!
[Chris] Huh?

It looks like Hercules
is getting tired.

[Martin] The challenger has
him in another take down hold.

I mean, take up hold.

[Chris] Hold on, Hercules!

[Martin] Ooo, that's a take up.

Now he holds him
there, for a while,

just to make his point clear.

The challenger wins.

And Hercules retreats.

[Martin] Knowing that
he lost this battle.

[Chris] An impressive
win, for the other guy.

And off he goes,
with the female.

Ah, don't be too
bummed Hercules.

It was a good match.

That guy was huge.

Yeah, you
almost had him.

You'll get him
next time, buddy.

Yup, it'll be a great re match.

(buzzing sound)

[Both] Uh oh.

He pressed the reverse
miniaturize button.

Um, he was a big beetle before.

[Martin] Now, he's a monster!

Woah, easy big guy!

[Martin] Oh no!

Uh, I wouldn't come
out if I were you.

[Martin] Uh Chris,
we got a problem!

[Chris] Yeah, a giant monster
beetle is on the loose!

[Jimmy Z] A giant flying beetle?

Are you sure you
got that right, Koki?

Yeah, I'm sure,

but I'll believe
it when I see it.

Yeah, they're probably
over reacting.

[Jimmy Z] Or not!

[Koki] Look out!

Was that?

Well, it had two
sets of wings, right?

Uh huh.

[Koki] One hard,
protective set on top,

and another flying
set underneath?

[Jimmy Z] Yup!
[Koki] That's what beetles have.

[Koki] And it was gigantic!

So I'd say that's our guy.

[Chris and Martin]
Come on, hurry!

Robotic arms are ready.

Let's go!

I'm not liking
the sound of this!

[Martin] Hercules beetles
aren't the greatest flyers,

but even with their size
and heft, they can do it.

Okay Jimmy, pull up close,
and I'll lasso him.

[Aviva] And launch!

(suspenseful music)

[Chris] Woo nice aim Aviva.

You got him!

[Aviva and Jimmy Z] Ahh!

[Koki] He's not happy.

Launching reinforcements.

[Aviva] Okay, we got
a strong hold now.

[Koki] Engaging full
power reverse engines.

[Chris] Great job g*ng!

[Martin] It's okay, Hercules.

We're trying to help you.

[Chris] You've got
to trust us, buddy.

(Aviva, Jimmy and Koki yelling)

(Aviva, Jimmy and Koki yelling)

(thud sound)

(Aviva, Jimmy and Koki yelling)

Well, that didn't work.

(sighs) Maybe you just can't
lasso a giant horned beetle.

(snap sound)

[Aviva] Oh no, the
robotic arms are snapping.

[Martin] They're going down!

Hang on, there's gonna
be a little bump!

My inventions! Atlas!

(crashing sounds)

[Koki] You call that
a little bump?

[Chris] Guys, you okay?

[Jimmy Z] Yeah, except the
Tortuga's out of commission.

And, it'll take me a while
to fix these engines.

Well, you better hurry.

[Martin] Because Hercules is
busting up the rainforest!

[Aviva] Wow, even
after that crash,

my beetle armor
prototype held up.

Exoskeleton protection!

[Aviva] Well Atlas, it's
up to you and me to stop

this giant beetle now.

[Aviva] And that
means, finishing

this creature power suit.

So we need to complete the
muscle attachments to

make it work.

[Aviva] See, my muscle's
attached to the bones to move

my skeleton around.

And your muscle's attached
to the outer exoskeleton

[Aviva] to move
your body around.

Similar idea, but different.

And that's why the
exoskeleton is broken up

into pieces that can
move at the joints.

The main one's are the head,
the thorax and the abdomen.

Plus, the segmented legs.

All very movable.

Like a suit of armor.

[Aviva] I'll need this and that.

Let's hope we do
this right, Atlas.

I have a feeling the
future of this adventure

rests on our shoulders.

[Chris] Oh, there
goes another tree!

[Martin] Hercules!

Easy, buddy.

Slow down!

I know you don't really mean to,

but you're
destroying the forest!

And not only that,

[Chris] he's heading straight
towards a nearby city!

[Martin] Oh no, this
could get even worse!

Guys, they're ready!

What are ready?

[Aviva] These! Hercules
beetle creature power discs.

All the programming is in here.

Awesome!

Hey, but what are we
supposed to do with them?

Do your creature power thing!

Coming at ya, Jimmy! Ha!

And zap it!

Oh no, you want us to
do a beetle battle?

With that guy?!

It's the only way to stop him.

[Chris] What? We don't
have a chance against him.

He's unstoppable!

You need to try.

When have my suits
ever let you down?

Ah, she's right.

Let's at least get giant sized,
so it's a little more even.

We can't! The miniaturizer's
broken, remember?

Exactly, and I need to fix
it so we can get him back

to normal size.

You need to buy me some time.

Okay, let me get this straight.

We gotta battle him?

[Martin] Regular sized?

[Aviva] Look on the bright side.

At least you'll be
two against one.

Now, get going!

[Both] Insert Hecules
beetle power discs.

[Martin and Chris]
Touch Hercules beetle.

And, activate
Hercules beetle power!

♪

Awesome! I feel so
strong and powerful.

[Chris] And indestructible!

Like I'm wearing
a suit of armor.

[Martin] Haha!

Chris!

(Martin grunts)

I'm okay.

This exoskeleton
really works Aviva.

Phew, just like I promised.

Now, get this thing off me bro.

Cool, Hercules
beetle horns have

[Martin] special
hairs for a good grip.

That's nice! Now get it off!

Testing beetle strength...

It works!

It works!

Ah, thanks.

Flattened by a boulder,

and hardly a scratch.

[Aviva] Guys, look
where he's heading.

The city! I'll warn them, but
you've got to stop him.

Don't let him get to the city!

[Both] To the city rescue!

(dramatic music)

♪

[Chris] Stop right
there, Hercules.

No giant beetle in
the city, okay?

We don't want any trouble, but
we do have awesome beetle power!

[Martin] Your choice.

Just sayin...

(Martin yells)

Ah well, maybe not
as awesome as yours.

[Chris] Uh, can't
we talk this out?

Oh!

(Chris screams)

Whoaa!!! Oof!

Okay, I think we can
scratch this plan.

Yeah, time for plan B.

Tire him out.

Ha ha, got ya.

(Martin screams)

[Chris] He doesn't
seem that tired!

(Chris yells)

Oof!

(crashing thud)

Oof!

Oof!

Oh, I think we
tired ourselves out.

Yeah, that didn't work either.

[Chris] And look, he's
getting closer to the city!

[Martin] And he'll destroy it!

We'll never stop him,

unless we can find a way
to lift him off the ground.

That's the only way to win.

Beetle style!

But the only way to do that,
is if we both get hold of him

at the same time.

And we can't get near him.

Unless

we trick him.

Are you thinking
what I'm thinking?

Oh, I'm thinking
what you're thinking.

Plan C,

it just might work.

Green beetle to Tortuga,

[Chris] come in Tortuga!

Jimmy, here. Go, green beetle.

Does walking mode still
work on the Tortuga?

Um, if I say yes, am
I going to regret it?

Yes, walking systems are a go!

Ohh...

Great, listen up!

[Chris] We've got a plan!

(car alarm)

Where'd he go?

[Jimmy Z] I don't know,

I don't see him anywhere.

[Koki] There he is!

[Koki] Hey, Hercules!

Stop right there!

[Martin] I
think he's falling

for our Tortuga decoy!

Come on, let's
get into position.

Okay, here we go.

I hope everybody else is ready.

Gotta get this
miniaturizer repaired fast.

I gotta say Atlas, you
insects fascinate me,

There's so much amazing
creature power packed into

[Aviva] your
small, little bodies.

Sure is strange to imagine
what the world would be like,

if insects were bigger.

But you're not, so we
have to set things right

in the creature world.

And fa...
(grunts)

We've got the best
seat in the house.

Oh, I mean city.

[Chris] Oh yeah, and
for this plan to work,

our timing needs to be spot on.

[Koki] Jimmy,
engage robotic arms.

[Jimmy Z] Engaged!

This is weird,

a giant beetle
and a turtle ship

in a wrestling match?

Hang onto him, Jimmy!

Don't disengage.

[Jimmy Z] I'm not,
but he's too strong.

Even for the Tortuga.

And we don't have those little,
grabby pokes on our legs

to hold onto anything.

[Koki and Jimmy Z] Uh oh!

Whoa!!!

[Koki] Well, that confirms it.

If a Hercules beetle was the
size of a two storey house,

it could lift a jet airplane.

[Chris] Now!

While he thinks he won,
we can get in there.

Got him!

Me too!

[Martin and Chris] Lift!

I don't know if
we're strong enough.

[Chris] By my calculations,

a Hercules beetle the size
and weight of a human

should be able to lift
about times their weight.

That's like lifting a big truck!

Exactly.

So two human size beetles
should be able to lift it.

[Martin] We're budging him.

Keep going!

Lift!!

[Martin] We did it!

That is a take up, bro.

[Chris] Miniaturizer, we need...

the miniaturizer.

Almost ready.

Keep holding him!

[Chris] Hurry, we can't
hold him much longer.

[Martin] Gotta keep
his feet off the ground.

(power drill sound)

[Aviva] Come on Atlas!

Let's go!

[Aviva] If I'm not too late.

Can't...hold it...anymore.

[Aviva] I'm coming!

[Aviva] I'm here, guys!

Huh?

(Aviva gasps)

[Aviva] Uh oh!
( crashing sound )

[Chris and Martin] Aviva!

Are you ok?

I'm fine, but he
looks really mad.

Hercules, hey wait,
we're just trying to help.

(Martin yells)

[Chris] Easy, buddy!

Oh no, you don't!

[Aviva] Miniaturize!

I like you much
better that size.

[Aviva] There you go, Hercules.

Back to where you're
supposed to be.

And the size you're
supposed to be.

(laughter)

Well, that's
mission accomplished!

We've restored the natural
order and saved the city.

Ha, and we learned a lot about

the cool Hercules
and Atlas beetle battles.

And about exoskeletons, too!

Thanks for helping me
figure that out, Atlas!

Now it's time to
get you home, too.

Back to the Asian forest.

But first, there's only

one thing left to do.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

I think we're thinking
the same thing.

(thud sound)

[Both] A Kratt brother
beetle battle!

I learned a few moves
from Hercules, you know.

Me too!

[Martin] He's the real
beetle battle champion.

(laughter)

So Hercules beetles
are one super strong

power lifting beetle.

[Chris] Generally,
the beetles at the museum

keep to themselves.

They rest, they
eat rotten fruit.

Oh, this guy loves the mango.

These big beetles, they have
some really cute babies.

Do you want to see an
elephant beetle baby?

Check it out!

[Martin] So cute, right?

Just kidding.

[Martin] They are really
weird looking larvae.

Look at the face.

It's hard to believe
that it will turn into

[Martin] an elephant beetle.

This beetle's life
cycle starts as an egg,

and then a small larvae hatches.

The larvae keeps
growing underground

[Martin] until it gets
this big, or bigger.

And then, it goes into
a pupa-stage.

From which it emerges

[Martin] as an adult
elephant beetle.

Whoa, we've
got a beetle battle

[Chris] starting here.

A beetle battle right here.

Incredible.

[Martin] We have two
Hercules beetles sizing

each other up, here.

[Martin] One brown, one green.

[Chris] That green guy
is really aggressive.

Look at them, they're
jockeying for position,

trying to get a
hold on each other,

[Martin] but which will
get a good grip first?

Incredible.

They are each trying to, oh wow!

Whoa that was a quick flip.

[Martin] Rewind,
gotta see that again.

The brown one didn't have
a good grip on the ground,

and got flipped over.

- Now he's moving him away.
- Oh, he's lifting him up.

Oh, that's total
victory right there.

[Martin] That is victory.
[Chris] That is the goal

right there, lifting the
other beetle up in the air.

If you do that, you win,

[Chris] if you're
a Hercules beetle.

Remember, these guys are
super strong for their size.

They can lift at least
times their body weight.

If I could lift
times my weight,

I could lift, a truck.

That would be amazing.

No doubt about it, Hercules
beetles are a powerhouse

of the creature world.

One of the largest beetles

in the world and

one of the coolest.

Keep on creature adventuring.

We'll see ya on
the creature trail.

(theme song)

♪

[Chris] To find out
more about cool animals

[Both] We'll see you there!