Volbeat slightly resembles a firefly in appearance. His body, wings, and face are blue, and his body has two yellow stripes. His back (or possibly shell) as well as his arms and legs are black. His long, curly antennae are yellow with black stripes. The irises of his eyes are yellow, and his face seems to display a sad or forlorn expression. Possibly Volbeat's most important part is his glowing yellow tail, which it uses to communicate, draw patterns in the night sky, and use his move Tail Glow.
Gender differences
Volbeat are the male of the species. For the female counterpart, see Illumise.
Special abilities
Volbeat are able to use their tail to emit a light that boosts their special attack power. They can also create geometric shapes with the light when several of them get into a group.
Behavior
Volbeat perform their courtship dance for Illumise during their mating season.
A Volbeat appeared in Time-Warp Heals All Wounds. Edna mentions how Volbeat and Illumise used to do their mating dance in a large tree that used to be located in the middle of the city.
Volbeat also appeared in Zoroark: Master of Illusions as a few of the many local Pokémon who lives in Crown City. A Volbeat worked with several other Pokémon in surrounding Zorua at the park to attack him, angry at Zorua for what Zoroark did to the city. Before a fight broke out, the Volbeat, along with the other Pokémon, were calmed by Celebi.
With the arrival of night, Volbeat emits light from its tail. It communicates with others by adjusting the intensity and flashing of its light. This Pokémon is attracted by the sweet aroma of Illumise.
Volbeat's tail glows like a lightbulb. With other Volbeat, it uses its tail to draw geometric shapes in the night sky. This Pokémon loves the sweet aroma given off by Illumise.
With their taillights lit, Volbeat fly in a swarm, drawing geometric designs in the night sky. They move their nests if their pond water becomes dirty.
Volbeat is, so far, the only Pokémon that can learn Flash by leveling up.
Volbeat shares the same species name with its female counterpart Illumise. They are both known as Firefly Pokémon.
Despite being the Firefly Pokémon, they can be found all day in Diamond and Pearl, unlike real fireflies, which are nocturnal.
Volbeat, along with Illumise, was thought to have been the first Bug/Electric Pokémon, according to a Nintendo Power issue released before Ruby and Sapphire. However, this was later proved false.
Coincidentally, Volbeat shares its name with a Danish rock band formed in 2000.
Volbeat appears to be based on Lampyridaes (also known as fireflies) like its counterpart, Illumise. Its coloring suggests that it may have been based on the subfamily Cyphonocerinae. Its appearance is based on a greaser's, a subculture in the 1950's; their Japanese counterparts are the Bōsōzoku. Greasers usually wore black or brown y-collared trench-coats and/or jackets with under shirts and also had heavily greased hair. This is shown in Volbeat's black colored "shirt", striped belly "under shirt" and "collar". The pose Volbeat is shown in its Sugimori art may also be a reference to greasers, as they are commonly shown with their hands either holding or popping their jacket collars.
Name origin
Volbeat's name is a combination of volt, referring to its electrical powers, and beetle or beat.
Barubeat is a possible combination of バルブ barubu, meaning bulb, and beetle.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Volbeat images on Bulbagarden Archives.
