Hardhat Beetle

The Hardhat Beetle (ポーン, Pôn; lit. "Pawn") is a relative of the Octorok, and is sometimes also referred to as an Octogon, appearing in A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, Four Swords Adventures, and Phantom Hourglass.

Characteristics
The Hardhat Beetle is a small, yet impregnable foe known to creep about the various rooms and hallways throughout the dungeons in several Zelda titles. These creatures appear to resemble the physicality of a turtle: the Hardhat Beetle retains an unbreachable shell, yet beneath and within holds the actual being, sometimes from which only the legs are seen, as in A Link to the Past and Phantom Hourglass. These creatures vary in color from game to game, however only in A Link to the Past does color actually carry meaning: the blue Hardhat Beetles can be defeated after three strikes of the sword, while the red variety moves faster and can be defeated with two Golden Sword strikes.

Weaknesses
Interestingly, there are many ways to dispel these creatures, the most popular involving Bombs, knocking the creatures into pits and holes in the ground, and stunning them with the Boomerang. However, there are some game-specific methods of vanquishment: in Link's Awakening, Link can direct these creatures into the territory of a Bow-Wow who would, subsequently, see them as a satisfactory meal. Oracle of Seasons has Link manipulating an energy ball towards these enemies through use of the Magnetic Gloves. Using the pummel jump of Roc's Feather in Four Swords Adventures is another way to dispel these foes, and finally, the Hammer received in Phantom Hourglass can be used to smash the Hardhat Beetle into oblivion.

Trivia

 * There is a required minigame in Oracle of Ages that demands that Link defeat four or eight Hardhat Beetles in less than thirty seconds or before the minecart hits whatever item is being fixed.
 * This enemy seems to resemble the Blooper and Buzzy Beetle enemies from the Mario franchise.