Japan [[BeetleManiac loves bugs]], and they're everywhere. Not only is BugCatching one of the oldest pastimes in the country, but much of their pop culture includes or is influenced by them.

However, within Japanese media, two particular insects stand out: the Kabutomushi (Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle, though often romanized by the Japanese as simply Beetle) and Kuwagatamushi (Stag Beetle). Often, when something inspired by one of the two appears in some sort of media, the other is either with them, or not too far behind. Another common element is for the two beetle-inspired elements to be of contrasting colors, and there is often a RedOniBlueOni relationship between the two.

There have been enough examples that they can be organized into three types: * Type A: Allies. They are usually introduced at the same time, constantly work together and are seldom seen apart. Often Type As are either partners or brothers.* Type B: Rivals. They can't stand each others' guts, constantly butt heads and at times are on opposite sides. * Type C: Coincidental. This is the rarest of the three types, and occurs when just by chance, and Kabuto and Kuwagata exist in the same universe, much like their real-life counterparts.

Related is the Beetle ''Sister'', the Tentomushi (Ladybug, a.k.a. Lady Beetle). Whenever beetles form a PowerTrio, you can expect TheChick to be a Ladybug.

Rarely, this phenomenon will be referenced obliquely. If [[DuoTropes two characters]] with [[{{Sidekick}} some]] [[TheRival sort]] [[BigBad of]] [[{{Foil}} relationship]] exist in your medium - and one has a single horn ([[FreudWasRight shut up]]) and the other has two, chances are this is why.---- !!Examples [[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]] * ''{{Medabots}}'' has a prime example of a Type B in Metabee (the Kabuto) and Rokusho (the Kuwaga), who are Gold and Silver, respectively, and have extremely different personalities, as well as the nature of their Medals, though sometimes cross into being Type A as Rokusho will sometimes offer his assistance to Ikki and Metabee. Unusually, the franchise actually has a third "brother" - [[WaveMotionGun Arcbeetle]], based on the [[http://wallpapers111.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Hercules-Beetle-Wallpaper-7.jpg Hercules beetle]], which is the least prominent but most powerful member of the lot.* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'':** ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' has a Type B in the form of the blue Kabuterimon and red Kuwagamon, though this is mainly in accordance with supplemental material. The anime makes it seem more like they are a Type C. Plus there's Kabuterimon's pre-evolution, Tentomon, closing the aforementioned PowerTrio.** An oblique reference exists in [[VideoGame/DigimonWonderswanSeries Milleniumon]], a {{fusion|Dance}} of two {{Hybrid Monster}}s already famous for being a combination of parts of other Digimon: the biological [[Anime/DigimonAdventure02 Kimeramon]] and the mechanical [[Anime/DigimonAdventure Machinedramon]]. As Milleniumon progress through its multiple forms, the one thing that will remain constant is that one head will have a single horn and the other will have two.** Averted in ''Anime/DigimonFrontier''. One of the heroes has kabutomushi-themed forms Blitzmon (Beetlemon in the dub) and Bolgmon ([=MetalKabuterimon=]), but he has no kuwaga-themed counterpart. The Digimon his power comes from, [=AncientBeetlemon=], has features of both, however.** ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'' features Ballistamon, a robot with some kabutomushi features (''especially'' the giant horn). A late arc in the show reveals that he was once [=DarkVolumon=], a kuwaga-styled robot superweapon, before being damaged and repaired into his current friendlier form.* By extension of the ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' video games, we have the Type C pair of Heracross and Pinsir, Bug-type Pokemon introduced in consecutive generations that use mostly Fighting-type attacks.** In the episode where Ash catches his Heracross, a bunch of Pinsir are invading the Heracross herd's territory, making it seem like a type B, but it's revealed that the invasion is due to the Pinsir being driven out of their own territory by Team Rocket.* Type A in ''Franchise/OnePiece'' during the Thriller Bark arc. Usopp uses two different large slingshots named Kabuto and Kuwagata.* ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}'' features the beetle-type Zoids Saicurtis (a red Kabutomushi) and the Double Sworder (a blue Kuwagatamushi) in a type B scenario, with the Saicurtis as an Imperial Zoid and the Double Sworder as a Republican Zoid. Both apppear in ''Anime/ZoidsChaoticCentury'' -- however, the Saicurtis only appears in the manga, while the Double Sworder only appears in the anime, though the Saicurtis was mentioned by name in the anime.* Kabutomushi from ''Manga/{{Arachnid}}'' is a rare example of a female with the rhino beetle theme instead of the ladybug one. She wields a "Kabuto Horn" spear and has armor implanted within her body to befit her motif. Curiously, no character with a stag beetle theme has been introduced either in ''Arachnid'' or ''Caterpillar''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]] * Multiple related ''Franchise/MetalHeroes'' series each have the three-man version of Type A with the Beetle as TheLeader, Stag as TheLancer, and Ladybug as TheChick:** ''Series/JuukouBFighter'' and its American counterpart ''Big Bad Series/{{Beetleborgs}}'' has Blue Beet/Blue Stinger Beetleborg, G-Stag/Green Hunter Beetleborg, and Reddle/Red Striker Beetleborg.** ''Series/BFighterKabuto'' and ''Series/{{Beetleborgs}} Metallix'': B-Fighter Kabuto/Chromium Gold Beetleborg, B-Fighter Kuwaga/Titanium Silver Beetleborg, and B-Fighter Tento/Platinum Purple Beetleborg.** ''Series/BRoboKabutack'' had Kabutack, Kuwajiro, and Tentorina.* ''Franchise/KamenRider'' has also inevitably used this, having a preference for insect themes:** Averted in ''Series/KamenRiderStronger''. The series featured a Rhino Beetle-themed titular hero and female Ladybug-themed sidekick, but no Stag Beetle.** One of the most powerful enemies faced by stag beetle-based ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'' is a rhinoceros beetle-based Grongi, Go Gadoru Ba. Leader of the most powerful of the Grongi tribes (though not the leader of the Grongi as a whole himself), Gadoru was one of three [[EvilCounterpart Evil Counterparts]] (the other two based on a grasshopper and a stag beetle) to Kuuga, and who was able to change between different forms corresponding to Kuuga's forms. Interestingly, even as Gadoru was the second most powerful Grongi in the series, the leader of the Grongi was the aforementioned stag beetle-based Grongi leader, N Daguba Zeba. ** ''Series/KamenRiderBlade'' is another prominent Type A example, with the rhinoceros beetle-based Kamen Rider Blade, and the stag beetle-based Kamen Rider Garren. Moving away from the pattern a bit is the mantis-based Kamen Rider Chalice, and later the spider-based Kamen Rider Leangle.** ''Series/KamenRiderFaiz'' has another villainous Type A example in the beetle Orphenochs introduced in episode 33.** ''Series/KamenRiderKabuto'' has the red rider Kabuto, and the blue rider Gatack, who are probably the best-known example of this trope in the franchise. They start as rivals, but later become steadfast allies.** ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'': Double and Accel, initially rivals and later allies, own black and red Stag Phones and all-blue Beetle Phone, respectively. The Riders themselves also carry a bit of the motif; as they have letters W and A on their helmets patterned after the beetles.** ''Series/KamenRiderOOO'' has a villainous Type A in the Kabuto and Kuwagata Yummies, which formed when a single Yummy (which was the Kabuto one) split in two. But averted in that OOO has a Kuwagata Core Medal, but not a Kabuto Core Medal.* Of course, ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' aren't left out either:** ''Series/NinpuuSentaiHurricaneger'' / ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' has the one of the strongest examples of Type A in recent history. The Kabuto Raiger / Crimson Thunder Ranger and Kuwaga Raiger / Navy (blue) Thunder Ranger are brothers whose entire motifs, changers, personal weapons and mecha revolve around the Kabuto/Kuwaga pair. The Thunders are adopted, but no less close for it.*** The version of the Goraigers that appeared in ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'' added a third, Tento Raiger. Unfortunately, she was evil and corrupted the other two, forcing the Akibarangers to get rid of her influence.** ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'' has a lesser Type A example in the Yin-Yang influenced white Butoka and black Wagataku, who are similar to terracotta soldiers, have no personality, yet get an upgraded form after their initial defeat. These two appear in ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'' as the Shadow Guards.** ''Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger'' / ''Series/PowerRangersMegaforce'' is a Type C with the existence of the Kabuto and Kuwagata Headers / Mechazords - both part of the Rangers' arsenal, but otherwise unrelated as part of separate {{Mecha Expansion Pack}}s.** ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGobusters'', like ''Hurricaneger'', has a pair of {{Sixth Ranger}}s - Beet Buster and Stag Buster. They don't follow the theme ''quite'' as strongly as the Goraigers did, but they're still one of the better examples.* ''Series/ChouSeiShinGransazer'' has a Type A in the form of the Wind Tribe's Sazer-Remls and Sazer-Dail.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]] * The MachineRobo Mugenbine toy line has the Type A red Iron Beetle and blue Junk Stag that can combine together to become Mugen Sector.* ''Franchise/{{Transformers Generation 1}}'' has two groups called the Insecticons which qualify; both being Type A and in teams with other insects[[note]]Other continuities tend to treat Insecticons as swarms of drones instead[[/note]]:** The ones with a lot more exposure in the cartoon and comics were Shrapnel the stag beetle and Bombshell the rhino beetle; with Kickback the grasshopper as their third.** The second group, which were mainly toy-only, had Barrage as the rhino beetle and Chop Shop as the stag; along with Venom the cicada and Ransack the locust. This group came from a defunct Bandai line called ''Beetras''; had the line continued, there would have been a female lady bug character/toy as well, which [[WhatCouldHaveBeen could have been the first official female Transformer]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]] * ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' originally just had the Stag-based Pinsir, and didn't get its Type C until Heracross was created in Generation 2 (originally, Scyther was Pinsir's version counterpart). Generation 2 also introduced Ledyba and Ledian, but it usually isn't associated with Pinsir or Heracross. Oddly, Kabuto and Kabutops are not examples, being based more on horseshoe crabs. Their name comes from traditional ''kabuto'', which are samurai helmets. [[FridgeBrilliance That's why the Dome Fossil is called so]].** The relationship between Pinsir and Heracross was reinforced in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', where two ended up being version exclusives, on top of both of them receiving [[SuperMode Mega Evolutions]].* The ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' video games have this, and due to the increased detail can expand further on this than the anime. The Kabuto- line includes champion level Kabuterimon, ultimate level [=MegaKabuterimon=] (in blue or red) and mega level [=HerculesKabuterimon=]. The Kuwaga- line includes champion Kuwagamon, ultimate Okuwamon, and mega [=GranKuwagamon=]. At those points, the lines are Type B. Those lines usually share the ladybug-esque Tentomon as a Rookie stage, and, in the case the mechanical Kokuwamon is used for the Kuwaga-line, it is not very antagonistic torwards Tentomon. In addition, [=HerculesKabuterimon=] originated as a combination of the lines, and actually has three horns, both the pincers and the single horn, while [=GranKuwagamon=] is also strongly associated with the non-scaraboid Stingmon line and quite divergent in design from the rest of the Kuwaga-line.** There is also the Kokabuterimon line ([=BladeKuwagamon=], [=MetallifeKuwagamon=] and [=TyrantKabuterimon=]), which hops back and forth between being rhinoceros-beetle and stag beetle-inspired.* While the original ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'' games, which were usually separated into Kabuto/Metabee and Kuwagata/Rokusho versions, had those two Medabots, they had more of a Type C relationship.* The CardBattleGame ''Mushiking'' has both the Kabuto and Kuwagata, but since they're not characters in a story, they're relegated to Type C.* Among the bugs you can catch in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', there are the Kabuto (referred to simply as a Beetle) and the Stag Beetle, putting it into Type C.** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' introduced a number of bugs as collectibles, which includes the "Sky Stag Beetle" (found only in Skyloft) and the "Woodland Rhino Beetle" (found only in Faron Woods, which makes it another Type C.* Yamato (Kabuto) and Shoya (Kuwaga) from ''VideoGame/DroneTactics'' are Type A. * ''VideoGame/MonsterRancher'' has the Beaklon (Kabuto) and Antlan (Kuwaga). They're sort of a mid-range between Type B and Type C—they weren't introduced at the same time and just sort of coexist, but their battle styles are different enough to seem contrasting.* There's a Type A setup with ''VideoGame/MegaManX1's'' Boomer Kuwanger (a not-very-good translation of Kuwaga) and his brother, ''VideoGame/MegaManX3's'' Gravity Beetle, who is of the Kabuto variety. The latter is actually one of the few Mavericks in ''X3'' who is completely uninterested in Doppler's plans and isn't even infected with TheVirus, but instead seeks revenge. In the manga, he even attempts to rebuild his brother.** ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' has a similar Type A with the first game's Herculious Anchortus (Kabuto) and the second game's Kuwagust Anchus, who refers to Herculious as his brother and teams up with him during the BossRush.** Less dramatically, the first ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' game contains a sidequest where the player can collect junk and trade it for valuable components. Two of the trade items are a Beetle and Stag Beetle pair, each of which can be found crawling around the forest.** ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' exhibits this trope in Black Ace/Red Joker. The Red Joker [[SuperMode Finalization]] has the two horns of the kuwagatamushi and the Black Ace sports the Kabutomushi's single horn.* The KO Kabuto and Staggerceps [[{{Mons}} Dream Eaters]] in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3D'' are a type C example, existing simply as {{Mooks}} and potential allies for you.* In the ''Francise/{{Kirby}}'' series, ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure'' introduces Bugzzy, a Kuwagata who gives Kirby [[WrestlerInAllOfUs the ability to suplex enemies]] when [[PowerCopying eaten]]. Oddly enough, he never had a Kabuto counterpart until ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'', released 21 years later, which introduced Hornhead. When Kirby absorbs this beetle, he will gain a Kabuto horn to attack enemies with.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]] * The rhinoceros beetle and stag beetle are normally Type C, but in the hobby of Insect Fighting, they become more of a Type B [[/folder]]----