Moto Bug

"The very first Badnik that Sonic ever encountered, this metal beetle returns to try and take down Sonic one last time. Watch out - he will turn around to chase Sonic if he misses."

- Profile, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I website

The Moto Bug (モトラ) is a ladybug-type Badnik created by Dr. Eggman. It makes its first appearance in the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog, as these Badniks travel everywhere in Green Hill Zone.

Moto Bugs are usually slow-paced robots that move around, which makes them very basic enemies. Moto Bug is known for being the first enemy that Sonic has encountered in his first appearance and thus being the first enemy encountered in the entire series.

Appearance
The Moto Bug resembles more or less a robotic version of a real-life ladybug. Its body armor is red and its face is painted dark blue. Its source of locomotion is reliant on the simple wheel mechanism located in its undercarriage. A small engine on the rear of the Badnik propels its wheel across the ground. Small pincers located below its head are its only source of defense. In certain games, its torso is decorated with black circles.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I features a more detailed appearance of Moto Bug, Sonic Colors makes Moto Bugs more closely resemble a real-life ladybug, and Sonic Lost World simply refines the Moto Bug's original appearance.

Powers and abilities
The Moto Bug is often considered the weakest Badnik created by Dr. Eggman. It simply coasts along the ground in an attempt to hurt enemies with its pincers. Merely jumping on top of it will destroy it. In Sonic the Hedgehog 4, its arms look more scythe-like and it tries to chase Sonic, but apart from that, it still trundles around as usual.

Moto Bugs become a bigger threat in Sonic Colours, as they are able to move at speeds rivaling that of Sonic himself, and can only be attacked by throwing them off balance with a Quick Step into it's side.

Sonic Generations brings back the Moto Bug, sporting the same design as Sonic Colors. This iteration of the Moto Bug will remain stationary until Sonic approaches, at which point they peel-out their wheel (in order to "charge" its speed) to quickly ram into Sonic. This "charge time" is so lengthy, however, that it is rendered useless when subjected to a Boost, a Homing Attack or a Spin Dash.

In their appearance in Sonic Lost World, Moto Bugs will putter around without cause until Sonic comes within proximity. At this point, the Moto Bug will gain a determined expression and home into Sonic at a slow speed. A simple Homing Attack, Spin Dash, or Flying Kick is enough to dispatch the Badnik and free the animal friend inside it.

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)
The first appearance of the Moto Bug is in the original 16-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog. These Badniks only move back and forth in the zone, and will attempt to chase the player if they see them- however, it moves very slowly. Moto Bugs are relatively harmless and can only hurt you if you run directly into them. The player can easily destroy Moto Bugs with Spin Jumping or running them over with a Spin Attack.

Moto Bug appears only at Green Hill Zone in both 16-bit and 8-bit versions. In the 8-bit version, these Badniks can only be found at first act of the zone and are shown to be incredibly small but act same way like in 16-bit counterpart. Moto Bugs in the 8-bit version don't have an animal friend inside of them; this then goes on to be a tradition in Game Gear and Master System titles.

Sonic Drift 2
Moto Bugs make a brief appearance in Sonic Drift 2, where they are called Motora. In this game, this Badnik tries to come to the racers' way at Hill Top track. In this game, Moto Bug is really small like they were in the 8-bit version of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
The Moto Bug returns in Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I and Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal where it is named the Motobug. Much like the first game, the Motobug poses no real threat in its return appearance in  Moto Bugs can only found in Splash Hill Zone and Metal Episode Act 4. They function more or less identical to their first appearance.

Sonic Colors
Moto Bugs make another appearance in Wii version of Sonic Colors, as these Badniks have been enhanced with extreme speed capabilities, rivaling Sonic himself. They can only be found on the Wii version of Starlight Carnival, Asteroid Coaster and Terminal Velocity, during the Quick Step sections.

However, Sonic can still take them out pretty easily by Quick Stepping into them. The Moto Bug comes in two sizes in Sonic Colors, and if Sonic destroys a large Moto Bug, all the smaller ones are destroyed with it. From this game onward, Moto Bug was given more of a ladybug look.

Sonic Generations
The Moto Bug also returns in Sonic Generations; it only appears at both versions of Green Hill, the remake of the zone with same name from the original Sonic the Hedgehog. The game also features a gigantic version of the Moto Bug in one Challenge Act. It can't be destroyed - only stunned - along with a gigantic variation of a Buzz Bomber. However, they can be used to bounce Sonic up high into the air. In this game, Moto Bugs actually put up a fight, as some Moto Bugs will rev up and charge at the Sonics at a decent speed if they spot them.

Sonic Lost World
Moto Bugs make another reappearance in Sonic Lost World, where they are the most frequently seen enemies in the game, as they are seen at Windy Hill, Desert Ruins, Silent Forest, Frozen Factory and Tropical Coast. During the game, it turns out that Badniks, Moto Bugs included, got hijacked by the Deadly Six.

As sporting a simpler appearance like the earliest games of the series, these Badniks now move mostly in groups and some groups of Moto Bugs have certain patterns as well. These enemies seem easy to defeat, once again defeated by simply jumping on them. In one cutscene, some Moto Bugs are seen to be powered with three animal friends instead of the standard one from earlier appearances.

Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, Moto Bugs are one the most common enemies. In this game, their attack patterns varies, either remaining stationary or moving back and forth, and are placed either separately or in groups.

Moto Bugs in Sonic Runners come in three types. In addiction to the regular Moto Bugs, there are golden ones which grant 300 more points when defeated, and black ones called Super Moto Bugs which only power-type characters can defeat. All variations contain Animals inside them.

Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic
Moto Bug appears briefly in Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic manga. At the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic Volume 3 story Sonic Rampage!!, Moto Bug and Burrobot were sent by Dr. Eggman to beat down Sonic, but despite the their fierce nature, they were easily defeated.

Sonic the Comic
Moto Bugs appeared frequently in early issues of Fleetway's Sonic the Comic as part of Doctor Robotnik's Badnik army. Depending on artist, Moto Bug's appearance has slightly altered various times. It is first seen getting destroyed by Sonic.

Moto Bug along with others have lead Tufftee's friends to pit in Marble Zone, who would later threat to drop Tufftee to the lava pool instead of crushing him. Because of Tufftee's strong nature, Badniks instead send in Badnik Processing Badnik to deal with him until Sonic spins to the action and destroys all Badniks, but the Moto Bug attempts to not get destroyed by Sonic and tries to run to the lava along burning animal friend inside of it. However Sonic manages to get in front of him and defeats it releasing animal friend in it and saves Tufftee and his friends.

One time, Sonic and company runs away from Robotnik's Badnik army (Sonic lost his memory during the story), Moto Bug as a army's leader taunts Sonic and expected more of a fight from him. As the Badnik mentions Sonic's name in his line, Sonic's memory suddenly returns and at that time Badniks notices this, they try to escape but got destroyed by Sonic.

The comic features also two different versions of Moto Bugs which actually are about to become Badniks themselves. Later Sonic notices that one of Moto Bugs actually has Johnny Lightfoot being its organic battery. Porker Lewis has inventing a virus to turning "Moto Bugs" into a Nicenik variety of robots, which temporarily works on Bim and Bom.

Later in the comics, Moto Bugs were also basics to the Seven Badniks, including Metamoto and Motobotnik. Moto Bug also appeared at pin-up of Sonic the Poster Mag 2007.

Archie Comics
A specific purple and yellow Moto Bug made many appearances in the early issues of Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog comics, as he was just one of Robotnik's many Badnik henchmen. Moto Bug worked as a messenger who would spy on the Freedom Fighters, then report back to Robotnik. Moto Bug was present with the other decommissioned Badniks at Robo Hobo Jungle. He was later relocated with the others to Island of Misfit Badniks, where he helped to repair Pseudo-Sonic, but was unfortunately crushed by Bivalve.

Other Moto Bugs appear to work as butlers for Mammoth Mogul in Casino Night Zone. In the 2010 "Free Comic Book Day" Issue a monster in old Robotropolis has a Moto Bug face as part of his many Badnik appendages.

During the Operation: Clean Sweep, Moto Bug returns as the first Badnik Sonic encountered in Green Hill Zone. It was given a look similar to its game design of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 rather than its comic design. Because of resetting time and space, Sonic could not know what they are, which gives him the idea to call them Moto Bugs during the encounter, although he thinks the name being oddly appropriate.

In the Worlds Collide crossover event, a Moto Bug shows up briefly with a Mettaur when Eggman and Wily made a bet to see which robot would take down Dr. Light first. However, both robots had walked into each other, and thus the two robots began to fight each other instead of Dr. Light. The robots would eventually destroy each other, as Dr. Light would make a transmitter to contact Rouge the Bat or his robotic son, Mega Man.

Sonic Boom
In the Sonic Boom televisions series, the Moto Bugs, spelled as "Motobugs", are a mass-produced robot model created by Dr. Eggman which make up a part of Eggman's army of robotic foot soldiers. They serve both as sentries guarding Dr. Eggman's lair or a military force used for the doctor's frequent attacks on Team Sonic and Bygone Island. However, they are not very powerful and are easily destroyed in intense combat.

Merchandise
The toy company TOMY has released Moto Bug action figurine during the release of Sonic & Knuckles as it also includes a series of 21 Sonic figurines and these figurines came in packs of four under the Sonic & Knuckles label and were also released individually under a Sonic the Hedgehog label.

For the 20th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, Jazwares decided to make figures of the characters and enemies from the series. A Classic Sonic was released and included a little Moto Bug figurine.

Trivia

 * In several of its designs, the Moto Bug carries blades similar to the ones carried by the Slicer Badnik, except they are permanently attached to the Moto Bug chassis.
 * It is interesting to note that in Sonic the Comic #32's story No More Mr. Nice Bug, Moto Bugs actually appear to be dark blue colored Buzz Bombers.
 * Moto Bug appears in Sonic and the Black Knight in winning fan art.
 * The top speed of Moto Bugs has been changed regularly during the series as the Badnik has appears more and more times. In its appearances in Green Hill Zone and Splash Hill Zone, these Badniks have been remarkably slow, but later in Sonic Colors, Moto Bugs have shown to have enough speed to reach even Sonic himself. Because of the setting, Moto Bugs returned to its slow pattern in Green Hill of Sonic Generations, though they speed up when attacking Sonic.
 * Their design and general concept seem somewhat similar to that of Roaders in Mega Man series.
 * On the English Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I website, their name is spelled "Motobug".