Para-Beetle

Para-Beetles are flying Buzzy Beetles that first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3. Mario and Luigi can hop on their back for a ride allowing him to traverse air levels (making them one of the very few enemies that cannot be defeated by jumping on them). They are found only in Sky Land's level 5-6. jumping on a stationary Parabeetle will slightly lower it, though it will gradually rise upwards again. The mobile Para-Beetles soar quickly through the skies, forcing the heroes to jump from Para-Beetle to Para-Beetle. There was also a Green Para-Beetle that appeared via Game Genie Codes, who were faster than their Red siblings.

Para-Beetles made a few rare appearances in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3, where they either flew around in numbers, acting as minion's in Bowser's army, or served as rideable creatures for Mario, Luigi and Toad to ride on.

Para-Beetles return in New Super Mario Bros. Wii after a long absence. There is also a huge new sub-species known as the Heavy Para-Beetle. They only appear in World 7-6. If players jump on eight Para-Beetles consecutively without touching the ground, a 1-Up Mushroom will fall from the sky, which players can collect for an extra life.

A very similar enemy called a Parabuzzy appears in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Super Paper Mario.

Relatives

 * Buzzy Beetle
 * Heavy Para-Beetle