Bot a Day: Daily Drawings

Another soldier from the Super Link line, Chromhorn Gentei Forest Type is a redeco of Energon Insecticon . Part of the Terrorcon ranks, the Chromhorn drones turn into a mechanical rhinoceros beetle. This toy was available in Japan in 2004.  

The last of the three Insecticon clones (after Salvo and Shothole )  released as a set by e-HOBBY is Zaptrap. A redeco of the original Shrapnel in his pre-Transformers Diaclone colors, Zaptrap turns into a stag beetle. He was available online in 2004. 

There's a name you don't want to misspell. Shothole is an Insecticon clone of Kickback , the grasshopper, and included in the e-HOBBY three-pack of Insecticons redeco'ed in their pre-Transformers Diaclone-series colors in 2004. 

In the original animated series, the ranks of the Insecticons were bolstered by swarms of clones - identical animation models of the principal trio. This included Bombshell (1985) , who turns into a stag beetle. In 2004, e-HOBBY made available a trio of Insecticon redecos, including Salvo, meant to represent the otherwise anonymous clones. In a further bit of history, they were decoed to resemble their pre-Transformers Diaclone colors, when Bombshell/Salvo was known as Waruder Kabutron (1983). 

The 200th drawing is Insecticon, both an individual Terrorcon and name that applies to swarming, mindless masses.  Insecticon turns into a mechanical rhinoceros beetle. In Japan, he sported slightly different colors and was called Chromhorn. Insecticon was available at retail in 2004. 

From the European-only Action Master releases of 1991 comes Bombshell. He was one of the original Insecticons first released in 1985, and back then he turned into a boll weevil. Now, he's a non-transforming Action Master who comes with his sidekick Needler, who turns from creepy crawly into a battle helmet. 

Shrapnel is the leader of the Insecticons, and an electronic warfare specialist. He turns into a stag beetle, a mode that lends him large horns in robot mode. In the animated series, he's memorable for a peculiar speech impediment that causes him to repeat the last word he says in a whisper. He's also memorable for summoning lightning with his horns / pincers, which I've dramatized here in this sketch. 

Bombshell is the Insecticon psychological warfare specialist. Released in 1985, he turns into a mechanical rhinoceros beetle.

 From 2017 is this drawing of Kickback, part of the original Insecticon team from 1985. He turns into a mechanical grasshopper.

Venom, Decepticon psychological warfare specialist, is part of the deluxe Insecticon line of toys designs imported from Takatoku Toys. His bio describes him turning into a bee, but his insect mode more resembles a cicada. 

From the 1985 assortment, here's Ransack. This warrior is another in the line of deluxe Insecticons. He turns into a black and yellow locust. 

The next in the line of deluxe Insecticons from 1985 is Chop Shop, who turns into a stag beetle. 

To fill out the 1985 line, Hasbro licensed toy designs from companies beyond Takara, including a line of insect-robots from Takatoku toys that were rebranded as "Deluxe Insecticons." Here's the gunner of the group, Barrage, who turns into a rhinoceros beetle.