2011 TV series or program
| Monster Bug Wars |
|---|
| Genre | Documentary |
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| Narrated by | Henry Stozier |
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| No. of seasons | 2 |
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| No. of episodes | 12 |
|---|
|
| Running time | 24 minutes |
|---|
|
| Network | Science Channel |
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| Release | March 29, 2011 –
February 28, 2012 |
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Monster Bug Wars is a half-hour documentary program, created and distributed by Beyond Television Productions [1] and televised on the Science Channel. The monster movie format features two types of insects, arachnids, myriapods, and other invertebrates in gladiator style combat in a simulated natural environment. In addition, entomologists educate the viewer about the strengths and weaknesses of the dueling bugs.
Premise
"In nature's fight pit, a host of ruthless bugs as bizarre as they are lethal slug it out in real-life battles to the death. Witness epic encounters between swarms of marauding assassins, and vicious one-on-one clashes where only one bug survives. The world of monster bugs is a jungle, where there's just one law: eat or be eaten."
The program involves two types of bugs, usually but not always, both carnivorous. Both bugs are shown fighting to the death with the victor devouring the victim in graphic detail. The program is noted for its use of dramatic theme music and unusual sound editing. For example, during the combat, sounds of growling, screaming, war cries, and shreiks of agony, to name but a few, are heard. In addition, other military and ringside sound effects such as bells, bugles, whistles and alarms are also heard. Of course, none of these sounds are natural and are only added to enhance the life and death drama. However, some viewers have stated these sound effects are silly and do nothing but make a good documentary into something rather comical.[2] It has been noted that season two has much less sound effects than season one.
Between shots of the "bug smackdown", the two entomologist hosts of the program narrate the action. Dr. Linda Rayor of Cornell University, and Associate Professor, Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry of University of Queensland describe the insect's lethal abilities that have evolved to give it an advantage over its prey. The entomologists often try to predict the winner of the two warring insects.[3]
[4] The program is narrated by Henry Strozier.
[5]
Production
The series premiered in 2011 and had a run of six episodes. The series was renewed for 2012 with another six episodes produced.
Episodes
| Season
|
No. episodes
|
Year(s) aired
|
|
|
1
|
6
|
March 29, 2011 – May 3, 2011
|
|
|
2
|
6
|
January 24, 2012 – February 28, 2012
|
Season one (2011)
| Episode
|
Title
|
Original Airdate
|
Bugs
|
Winners
|
| 1
|
"Death at Midnight"
|
March 29, 2011
|
Spiny leaf insect vs. Giant rainforest mantis, Bulldog ant vs. Redback spider, Water strider vs. Wharf spider, Black house spider vs. White-tailed spider, Sydney funnel-web spider vs. Garden wolf spider
|
Giant rainforest mantis, Redback spider, Wharf spider, White-tailed spider, Sydney funnel-web spider
|
| 2
|
"Enemy Empire"
|
April 5, 2011
|
Tree scorpion vs. Green ants, Cellar spider vs. White-tailed spider, Antlion vs. Trap-jaw ant, Brown house spider vs. Redback spider, Desert centipede vs. Desert trapdoor spider
|
Green ants, Cellar spider, Antlion, Brown house spider, Desert centipede
|
| 3
|
"Quick and the Deadly"
|
April 12, 2011
|
House centipede vs. Swift tree mantis, Bulldog raspy cricket vs. Whistling tarantula, Assassin bug vs. Ogre-faced spider, Marbled scorpion vs. Trap-jaw ants, Spitting spider vs. Metallic-green jumping spider
|
House centipede, Bulldog raspy cricket, Ogre-faced spider, Trap-jaw ants, Spitting spider
|
| 4
|
"Shape-Shifters"
|
April 19, 2011
|
Destructive katydid vs. Tent-web spider, Giant banded huntsman spider vs. Jungle huntsman spider, Rhinoceros beetle vs. Meat ants, Green jumping spider vs. Long-jawed jumping spider, Grey tree runner mantis vs. Lichen huntsman spider
|
Tent-web spider, Giant banded huntsman spider, Meat ants, Green jumping spider, Lichen huntsman spider
|
| 5
|
"When Tribes Go To War"
|
April 26, 2011
|
Badge huntsman spider vs. Spider hunting scorpion, Balloon-winged katydid vs. Tree centipede, Freshwater crab vs. Tiger leeches, Portia spider vs. Long-jawed orb weaver, Green ants vs. Paper wasps
|
Spider hunting scorpion, Tree centipede, Tiger leeches, Portia spider, Paper wasps
|
| 6
|
"Rainforest Rampage"
|
May 3, 2011
|
Jack jumper ants vs. Green-bellied huntsman spider, Predatory katydid vs. Green praying mantis, Bee-killer assassin bug vs. Earwig, Spiny tree cricket vs. Golden orb-weaver, Desert centipede vs. Desert scorpion
|
Jack jumper ants, Predatory katydid, Bee-killer assassin bug, Golden orb-weaver, Desert centipede
|
Season two (2012)
| Episode
|
Title
|
Original Airdate
|
Bugs
|
Winners
|
| 1
|
"Deadly Duels"
|
January 24, 2012
|
Moss mantis vs. Jungle tiger beetle, Horned katydid vs. Owl butterfly caterpillar, Army ant vs. Ogre-faced spider, Black-tailed scorpion vs. Red-thighed wandering spider
|
Moss mantis, Horned katydid, Ogre-faced spider, Black-tailed scorpion, Flame bellied orb-weaver
|
| 2
|
"Blood on the Forest Floor"
|
January 31, 2012
|
Brazilian wandering spider vs. Hooded mantis, Army ants vs. Rainforest land crab, Harvestman vs. Velvet worm, Black-faced katydid vs. Black jungle stalker
|
Brazilian wandering spider, Army ants, Velvet worm, Black jungle stalker
|
| 3
|
"Ultra Violence"
|
February 7, 2012
|
Mexican red-rump tarantula vs. Giant cockroach, Stripe-tailed centipede vs. Vinegaroon, Banana spider vs. Orange horned katydid, Flag-tailed assassin bug vs. Golden carpenter ant, Bronzed huntsman spider vs. Slender necked mantis
|
Mexican red-rump tarantula, Vinegaroon, Banana spider, Flag-tailed assassin bug, Bronzed huntsman spider
|
| 4
|
"Mother of All Wars"
|
February 14, 2012
|
Scorpion baby vs. Pirate spider, Rufus comb-footed spider vs. Spitting spider, Lichen bark mantis vs. Rock spider, Bug-eyed katydid vs. Candy cane katydid
|
Scorpion baby, Rufus comb-footed spider, Lichen bark mantis, Candy cane katydid
|
| 5
|
"Murderous Intent"
|
February 21, 2012
|
Leafcutter ant vs. Speckled house spider, Costa Rican cellar spider vs. Geophilid centipede, Tiger jumping spider vs. Yellow rainforest jumping spider, Orange mouthed tarantula vs. Red muth conehead katydid, Dinosaur ants vs. Trap-jaw ants
|
Speckled house spider, Costa Rican cellar spider, Tiger jumping spider, Orange mouthed tarantula, Trap-jaw ants
|
| 6
|
"Super Slayers"
|
February 28, 2012
|
Leaf-tailed mantis vs. Sunburst raspy cricket, Crab spider vs. Spiny orb-weaver, Dragonfly nymph vs. Water bug, Crimson-legged assassin bug vs. Domino beetle, Mangrove tree crab vs. Leopard spider
|
Leaf-tailed mantis, Crab spider, Water bug, Crimson-legged assassin bug, Leopard spider
|
References
External links
