Monster Bug Wars

Monster Bug Wars
Genre Documentary
Narrated by Henry Stozier
Paul Willis (Australia)
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 12 (+2)
Production
Running time 44 minutes
48 minutes (Australia)
Broadcast
Original channel Science Channel
Original run March 29, 2011 – February 28, 2012

Monster Bug Wars is a nature documentary program, created and distributed by Beyond Television Productions [1] and televised on the Science Channel in the United States, and SBS in Australia. The monster movie format features two kinds 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.

Opening narration

“ 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. ”

Premise

The program highlights The Law of the Jungle involving 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 combat, the sounds of growling, screaming, war cries, and shrieks 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 program into something rather comical.[2] It has been noted that season two has much less sound effects than season one. Further more, the show's confrontation isn't really a real naturally occurring event, as the fight is actually being staged and done in a studio, which raise critics by some audiences.

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 bug'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 bugs.[3] [4] The program is narrated by Henry Strozier. [5]

In Australia, the program began airing on SBS on November 14, 2012. It features re-voiced narration by Dr. Paul Willis of RIAUS, as well as a longer running time due to additional narrated footage.[6]

Production

The series premiered in 2009. The first season started 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
Pilot episode 1 October 2009
1 6 March 29, 2011 – May 3, 2011
2 6 January 24, 2012 – February 28, 2012

Pilot episode (2009)

The pilot episode was first transmitted in October 7, 2009. It showed 7 fights, listed below.

Winners:

Season one (2011)

Episode Title Original Airdate Bugs Winners
1 "Death at Midnight" March 29, 2011 Spiny leaf insect vs. Giant rainforest mantis, Bull ant vs. Redback spider, Water strider vs. Water spider, Black house spider vs. White-tailed spider, Sydney funnel-web spider vs. Garden wolf spider Giant rainforest mantis, Redback spider, Water 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 Assassin bug vs. Ogre-faced spider, Bulldog raspy cricket vs. Whistling tarantula, House centipede vs. Swift tree mantis, Marbled scorpion vs. Trap-jaw ants, Spitting spider vs. Metallic green jumping spider Ogre-faced spider, Bulldog raspy cricket, House centipede, Trap-jaw ants, Spitting spider
4 "Shape-Shifters" April 19, 2011 Grey tree runner mantis vs. Lichen huntsman spider, Destructive katydid vs. Tent spider, Rhinoceros beetle vs. Meat ants, Green jumping spider vs. Long-jawed jumping spider, Giant banded huntsman spider vs. Jungle huntsman spider Lichen huntsman spider, Tent spider, Meat ants, Green jumping spider, Giant banded huntsman spider
5 "When Tribes Go To War" April 26, 2011 Green ants vs. Paper wasps, Portia spider vs. Long-jawed orb weaver, Balloon-winged katydid vs. Tree centipede, Badge huntsman spider vs. Spider hunting scorpion, Freshwater crab vs. Tiger leech Paper wasps, Portia spider, Tree centipede, Spider hunting scorpion, Tiger leech
6 "Rainforest Rampage" May 3, 2011 Jumping jack ants vs. Green-bellied huntsman spider, Predatory katydid vs. Green praying mantis, Spiny tree cricket vs. Golden orb-weaver, Desert centipede vs. Desert scorpion, Bee-killer assassin bug vs. Earwig Jumping jack ants, Predatory katydid, Golden orb-weaver, Desert centipede, Bee-killer assassin bug

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 soldier vs. Ogre-faced spider, Black-tailed scorpion vs. Red-thighed wandering spider, Longicorn beetle vs. Flame bellied orb-weaver 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, Red forest scorpion vs. Amblypygid Brazilian wandering spider, Army ants, Velvet worm, Black jungle stalker, Red forest scorpion
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 Black-tailed 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, Tiger assassin bug vs. Silverback cross spider Black-tailed scorpion baby, Rufus comb-footed spider, Lichen bark mantis, Candy cane katydid, Silverback cross spider
5 "Murderous Intent" February 21, 2012 Leafcutter ant soldier vs. Speckled house spider, Costa Rican cellar spider vs. Geophilid centipede, Tiger jumping spider vs. Yellow jumping spider, Orange-mouth tarantula vs. Red Mouth Conehead katydid, Dinosaur ants vs. Trap-jaw ants Speckled house spider, Costa Rican cellar spider, Tiger jumping spider, Orange-mouth tarantula, Trap-jaw ants
6 "Super Slayers" February 28, 2012 Leaf-tailed mantis vs. Sunburst raspy cricket, Crab spider vs. Spiny orb-weaver, Mudeye vs. Water bug, Crimson-legged assassin bug vs. Domino beetle, Mangrove tree crab vs. Leopard wandering spider Leaf-tailed mantis, Crab spider, Water bug, Crimson-legged assassin bug, Leopard wandering spider

Special episode

Monster Bug Wars Top 10 is a second season compilation episode released in July, 2012. This episode included 10 already released bug fights that have been shortened. The following battles are listed below:[7]

10 - Slender necked mantis vs. Bronzed huntsman spider

9 - Tiger beetle vs. Raspy cricket

8 - Paper wasps vs. Green ants

7 - Freshwater crab vs. Tiger leeches

6 - Trap-jaw ant vs. Antlion

5 - Assassin bug vs. Ogre-faced spider

4 - Desert centipede vs. Desert trapdoor spider

3 - Giant rainforest mantis vs. Spiny leaf insect

2 - Green jumping spider vs. Long-jawed jumping spider

1 - Green ants vs. Tree scorpion

References

  1. ↑ www.beyond.com
  2. ↑ community.discovery.com
  3. ↑ science.discovery.com
  4. ↑ press.discovery.com
  5. ↑ www.imdb.com
  6. ↑ riaus.org.au
  7. ↑ tv.msn.com

External links