Level 118 · Rhinoceros Beetle

Rhinoceros Beetle is level 118 of Crumb Colony. The pixel picture has 1296 blocks in 5 colors, the tray holds 63 ant boxes, and the difficulty is Expert.

Difficulty

Expert

Pacing

All the way

Blocks

1296

Colors

5

Ant boxes

63

Mechanics

6 chained pair(s) · Number blocks · Mystery boxes

Like this pixel picture? BitBead can turn it into a printable fuse bead pattern.

Play level 118

About the dish

A rhinoceros beetle with one big horn on its head, one of the strongest beetles there is.

How the picture comes apart

From the frame to the center the picture is 18 layers deep. The outer ring is mostly tan and brown, the middle band is mostly tan and dark red, and the core is mostly dark red and salmon. Ants can only reach the next layer once the one around it is gone, so the core colors are the last to become useful.

By block count the biggest colors are tan, brown and dark red.

2 number block(s) take 72 bites in total.

Reading the tray

The tray starts with 63 boxes in 4 columns. At the start 2 of the 4 front boxes can bite right away: brown (bites now), tan (bites now), dark red (has to wait) and dark red (has to wait).

Chained pairs start in column 1–2, row 2, column 1–2, row 13, column 2–3, row 6, column 3–4, row 7, column 3–4, row 10 and column 3–4, row 16.

13 mystery box(es) only show their color when they reach the front.

How the verified run plays out

The solution further down was played to the end in the real game, with ants walking and real timing. It takes 57 taps. The chart shows how many boxes were still parked in the 5 slots, waiting for their color, just before each tap.

Opening (taps 1–18): 36% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Middle (taps 19–35): 31% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Ending (taps 36–57): 32% of the blocks are eaten, with up to 4 of the 5 slots holding a box that is waiting.

Chained pairs are taken at taps 3, 18, 19, 24, 47 and 53.

How hard is it?

Two test players attempted this level many times: a cautious one that only sends colors it can use right away cleared it 10% of the time, and a look-ahead one that tries each option before committing cleared it 98% of the time. Most of their failed attempts jammed in the opening.

Strategy

Check the colors of the first three boxes in each column and compare them with the colors exposed on the outer ring of the picture. Always keep one slot free to catch a color that can't be eaten yet.

Tight from start to finish. Only take boxes that can send ants immediately, watch the second and third rows of the tray, and plan the next tap ahead.

Number blocks take many bites; the number is how many remain. They can be bitten as soon as any side is exposed, and several boxes of that color can work on one at once.

Chained boxes need both halves in the front row and two free slots. Take the boxes in front of them first and free two neighboring slots in advance.

Mystery boxes show their color only when they reach the front. When you see one coming, don't fill every slot; leave room for it.

Strategy guide: reading the tray and keeping the nest clear · Chained boxes · Number blocks · Difficulty curves

Step-by-step solution

This order of taps is verified to clear the level. Columns are numbered 1–4 from the left; after each tap, wait until the ants are out before the next one. Two boxes shown together are a chained pair taken in one tap.

Level 118 questions