Monster Bug Wars

The program highlights The Law of the Jungle involving two arthropods of different species, both usually being carnivorous. They 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—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 occasionally added. Of course, none of these sounds are natural and are only added to enhance the dramatic effect. However, some viewers have stated these sound effects are silly and do nothing but make a good documentary program into something rather comical.[https://archive.today/20120707065522/http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3271991318/m/83019612801 community.discovery.com] It has been noted that season two has much less sound effects than season one. Despite the odd sound effects, the invertebrate specialists managing the animals for the series took great care to ensure all the interactions were those between species that naturally interact and prey upon one another in the wild. This was the result of hundreds of hours of field observation and years of experience with the various species. Like the vast majority of macro productions, this was filmed in a studio situation to allow for controlled lighting and camera operation. It utilized large natural sets which enabled the animals to behave as they would in nature.

Between shots of the fight, 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 each arthropod's abilities that give it an advantage over the other. The entomologists often try to predict the winner of the two.{{cite web|url=http://science.discovery.com/tv/monster-bug-wars|title=Monster Bug Wars | Discovery Science|publisher=Science.discovery.com|date=December 10, 2013|accessdate=February 26, 2016}}

{{cite web|url=http://press.discovery.com/us/sci/programs/monster-bug-wars|title=Monster Bug Wars : Programs : Science Channel : Discovery Press Web|publisher=Press.discovery.com|accessdate=February 26, 2016}} The program is narrated by Henry Strozier.

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.{{cite web|url=http://riaus.org.au/articles/on-telly|title=On Telly - Royal Institution of AustraliaRiAus - Australia's Science Channel | Bringing science to people and people to science|publisher=Riaus.org.au|accessdate=February 26, 2016}}

Eden began airing the series on February 29, 2016 in the United Kingdom.

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.

{{Series overview

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| link0S = #Pilot (2009)

| linkT0S = Pilot

| start0S = {{Start date|2009|10|7}}

| color1 = #ffcc66

| link1 = #Season 1 (2011)

| episodes1 = 6

| start1 = {{Start date|2011|3|29}}

| end1 = {{End date|2011|5|3}}

| color2 = #ff69b4

| link2 = #Season 2 (2012)

| episodes2 = 6

| start2 = {{Start date|2012|1|24}}

| end2 = {{End date|2012|2|28}}

| color2S = #11AE11

| link2S = #Special (2012)

| linkT2S = Special

| start2S = {{Start date|2012|7}}

}}

In the following episode listings, winners are in bold.

{{Episode table

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|overall = 5

|title = 76

|airdate = 13

|forceoverall= y

|episodes =

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Pilot

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2009|10|7}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – King cricket vs. Centipede
2. – Saint Andrew Cross Spider vs. Portia spider
3. – Desert scorpion vs. Wolf spider
4. – Redback Spider vs. Huntsman spider
5. – Tiger beetle vs. Raspy cricket
6. – Giant rainforest mantis vs. Spiky katydid
7. – Bull ant vs. Black ant

}}

}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1565962/|title = Monster Bug Wars!|website = IMDb|date = October 7, 2009}}

{{Episode table

|background = #ffcc66

|overall = 5

|season = 6

|title = 76

|airdate = 13

|episodes =

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = Death at Midnight

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|3|29}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Giant rainforest mantis vs. Spiny leaf insect
2. – Bull ant vs. Redback spider
3. – Water spider vs. Water strider
4. – White-tailed spider vs. Black house spider
5. – Sydney funnel-web spider vs. Garden wolf spider

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = Enemy Empire

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|4|5}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Tree scorpion vs. Green ants
2. – Cellar spider vs. White-tailed spider
3. – Trap-jaw ant vs. Antlion
4. – Brown house spider vs. Redback spider
5. – Desert centipede vs. Desert trapdoor spider

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = Quick and the Deadly

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|4|12}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Ogre-faced spider vs. Assassin bug
2. – Bulldog raspy cricket vs. Whistling tarantula
3. – House centipede vs. Swift tree mantis
4. – Marbled scorpion vs. Trap-jaw ants
5. – Metallic green jumping spider vs. Spitting spider

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = Shape-Shifters

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|4|19}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Lichen huntsman spider vs. Grey tree runner mantis
2. – Tent spider vs. Destructive katydid
3. – Rhinoceros beetle vs. Meat ants
4. – Green jumping spider vs. Long-jawed jumping spider
5. – Giant banded huntsman spider vs. Jungle huntsman spider

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = When Tribes Go To War

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|4|26}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Green ants vs. Paper wasps
2. – Portia spider vs. Long-jawed orb weaver
3. – Balloon-winged katydid vs. Tree centipede
4. – Badge huntsman spider vs. Spider hunting scorpion
5. – Tiger leech vs. Freshwater crab

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = Rainforest Rampage

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|5|3}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Jumping jack ant vs. Green-bellied huntsman spider
2. – Green praying mantis vs. Predatory katydid
3. – Spiny tree cricket vs. Golden orb-weaver
4. – Desert centipede vs. Desert scorpion
5. – Bee killer assassin bug vs. Earwig

}}

}}

{{Episode table

|background = #ff69b4

|overall = 5

|season = 6

|title = 76

|airdate = 13

|episodes =

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = Deadly Duels

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|1|24}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Jungle tiger beetle vs. Moss mantis
2. – Horned katydid vs. Owl butterfly (caterpillar)
3. – Ogre-faced spider vs. Army ant (Soldier)
4. – Red-thighed wandering spider vs. Black-tailed Scorpion
5. – Longicorn beetle vs. Flame bellied orb-weaver

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = Blood on the Forest Floor

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|1|31}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Hooded mantis vs. Brazilian wandering spider
2. – Rainforest land crab vs. Army ant
3. – Harvestman vs. Velvetworm
4. – Black jungle stalker vs. Black faced katydid
5. – Amblypygid vs. Red forest scorpion

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = Ultra Violence

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|2|7}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Giant cockroach vs. Mexican red-rump tarantula
2. – Stripe-tailed centipede vs. Vinegaroon
3. – Banana spider vs. Orange horned katydid
4. – Golden carpenter ant vs. Flag-tailed assassin bug
5. – Slender necked mantis vs. Bronzed huntsman spider

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = Mother of All Wars

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|2|14}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Black-tailed scorpion (baby) vs. Pirate spider
2. – Lichen bark mantis vs. Rock spider
3. – Bug-eyed katydid vs. Candy-cane katydid
4. – Rufus comb-footed spider vs. Spitting spider
5. – Tiger assassin bug vs. Silverback cross spider

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = Murderous Intent

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|2|21}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Speckled house spider vs. Leafcutter ant (soldier)
2. – Tiger jumping spider vs. Yellow jumping spider
3. – Geophilid centipede vs. Costa Rican cellar spider
4. – Orange-mouthed tarantula vs. Red Mouth Conehead katydid
5. – Dinosaur ants vs. Trap-jaw ants

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 13

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = Super Slayers

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|2|28}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

1. – Leaf-tailed mantis vs. Sunburst raspy cricket
2. – Spiny orb-weaver vs. Crab spider
3. – Water bug vs. Mudeye
4. – Domino beetle vs. Crimson-legged assassin bug
5. – Mangrove tree crab vs. Leopard spider

}}

}}

{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1884907/|title = Monster Bug Wars!|website = IMDb|date = March 29, 2011}}

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:{{cite web|url=http://tv.msn.com/tv/episode/monster-bug-wars!/top-10-battles|title=Local listings, news, recaps, photos, clips and more – MSN TV|publisher=Tv.msn.com|date=February 1, 2016|accessdate=February 26, 2016}}

{{Episode table

|background = #11AE11

|overall = 5

|title = 76

|airdate = 13

|forceoverall= y

|episodes =

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 14

|Title = Monster Bug Wars Top 10

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|7}}

|ShortSummary = Rounds:

:10. – Slender necked mantis vs. Bronzed huntsman spider

:9. – Tiger beetle vs. Raspy cricket

:8. – Green ant vs. Paper wasp

:7. – Tiger leeches vs.Freshwater crab

: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. – Tree scorpion vs. Green ant

|LineColor = 11AE11

}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://science.discovery.com/tv/monster-bug-wars}}
• {{YouTube|channel=UCaL6Fn_Exyfe2tzBMI4cHVw}}
• {{cite web|author=Krishna Ramanujan|url=http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/March11/MonsterBugWars.html|title=Linda Rayor hosts 'Monster Bug Wars' TV series, starting March 29 on the Science Channel|publisher=News.cornell.edu|date=March 28, 2011|accessdate=February 26, 2016}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/01/13/monster-bug-wars-how-its-made-a-z-stephen-hawkings-sci-fi-masters-on-tap-this-quarter-on-science-730212/20120113science02|title=Breaking News - "Monster Bug Wars," "How It's Made A-Z," "Stephen Hawking's Sci Fi Masters" on Tap This Quarter on Science|publisher=TheFutonCritic.com|accessdate=February 26, 2016}}

Category:2011 American television series debuts

Category:2012 American television series endings

Category:2010s American documentary television series

Category:Television series about insects

Category:Television series by Beyond Television Productions

Category:Television shows about death games

Category:Science Channel original programming