"Whenever you encounter these creeping Worms make sure to finish them off. Use Fire Balls and watch your step!"
— Official Player's Guide
Arthroverta (アースロヴェルタ,Āsuroveruta?) is an enemy in the Castlevania series. It is a multi-segmented and multi-legged insect which tends to curl-up into a ball and roll around. They are sometimes referred to as "Worms", "Beetles", or "Snails".
In both game, the She Worms will just pace back and forth, but when struck they curl-up into a ball and roll around.
In concept art in the Castlevania Anniversary Collection, it is described as a "Giant Pill Bug" that rolls around quickly when attacked and will bounce off walls.
The Beetles stay immobile, curled-up in a ball when there's light. They are invulnerable but won't do any harm while in this state. However, when light goes out after nearby candles are destroyed), they will start to move around.
Arthroverta appears at the Monastery as the game's first boss. Its appearance is that of a giant beetle-like monster with a human-like face hiding inside the carapace located on the upper part of its head. Its attacks are predictable and has relatively low health compared to later bosses.
It has three attacks:
It can curl into a ball and try to ram the player down.
It opens the carapace on top of its head and a human-like face spits a web in midair which arcs down on the player (on Hard Mode, Arthroverta fires several webs at once in a continuous stream).
It tries to use its claws to smash the player.
The last two attacks are used alternately. The Arthro Medal (gained for defeating Arthroverta without receiving a single hit), hails it as the "Earth Beetle". There's no reward for defeating Arthroverta other than its medal, but inside the next room you'll watch a cutscene which unlocks Wygol Village.