#And with the chemicals there's probably endless variations of insects

[mandareeboo]

This is EXACTLY the kind of down time shenanigans I've been sorely missing. Just. Jinx and Isha, sitting in a stupid fort, watching insects try to cleave each other's guts out and feast.

[toho-literature]

Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red: Pages 60-61 - Wriggle Article and Interview

Season 119, Nagatsuki Issue #2

Insects’ News Service Starts

To improve the status of insects

The firefly youkai Ms. Wriggle Nightbug (youkai) has begun sending out huge amounts of insects for her "Insects' News Service." She is doing so in an effort to improve the low social status of insects.

What comes to mind when the subject turns to bugs? It seems most do not consider them to be anything beyond sustenance or garbage. Very few recognize them as much else, currently. The leader of the bugs, bothered by the present condition, proposed the idea for this service in order to break the status quo.

The idea behind this service is that, if given the plan and time in advance, a huge number of insects would come and make announcements. For example, if someone asked for a morning call, a huge amount of bugs would gather together on their futon and gently wake them. Winged types of insects and those with many legs may be used, allowing for endless variations.

I asked Ms. Wriggle to speak about this service.

"I want people to realize that bugs are helpful, too. These days, everyone just makes fun of us, and it's getting annoying. They think even fireflies and pine crickets are just for looking at. When did humans start thinking they are so high and mighty? But if we harm humans, they might exterminate us... That's why if we can prove that we are useful in their lives, I think our social status would improve."

Ms. Wriggle is managing this new service with her ability to manipulate insects. Users are saying things like "I broke out in a cold sweat and woke up right away" and "With that rustling sound next to your ears, you can hardly contain yourself", so it seems to have a favorable reputation so far.

However, Ms. Wriggle added afterwards, "We're getting tired of it, so we'll probably stop soon." The life of insects is short, so it makes sense that the life of the Insects' News Service would also be short.

(Aya Shameimaru)

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Interview

Wriggle: What? Were we doing something like this?

Aya: Are you talking about your article? Didn’t I interview you just the other day for it?

Wriggle: I don’t remember.

Aya: I wonder how small the brains of insects are?

Wriggle: It’s not like that, we just get rid of any old information once it has served its job. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to provide the Insect News Service, since we would forget our customers’ schedules.

Aya: Oh, so you remember after all.

Wriggle: I don’t remember.

Aya: I feel that insects had more power in the past than they do now. They would act as parasites, and they had stronger poisons... There were quite a few that could even defeat youkai with a single sting.

Wriggle: So the ones now are weak?

Aya: They are. In the past many poisonous bugs would battle, and the last one standing would gain magical powers. That was a dreadful thing. If you compare it to now, you’re not much more powerful than a non-youkai insect. So, you’re all show, aren’t you?

Wriggle: You don’t have to go that far. Now I’m all sad... Ooh...

Aya: But my crow loves insects.

Wriggle: Ack, my natural enemy, even here...

Aya: That’s why humans call them beneficial birds.

Wriggle: Let me get a word in! Although I don’t have much positive to say, especially with the number of bugs decreasing over the last few years...

Aya: Isn’t that good? Oh, but if the number of bugs decreases, the birds would be in a bit of trouble, too.

Wriggle: Getting eaten’s a problem, but... The bigger problem is insecticide!

Aya: Insecticide? Oh, that useful chemical created by humans?

Wriggle: Thanks to that stuff, lots of my cute bugs have shriveled up and died.

Aya: They’re pretty weak.

Wriggle: Are you trying to say that bugs in the past wouldn’t have died? These attacks are on a whole different level.

Aya: What are you talking about? Isn’t this your chance?

Wriggle: What chance?

Aya: If you gather together the bugs that survive insecticide, you make new generations that will resist it. That way you can build up their numbers for a while.

Wriggle: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm...

Aya: But in the meantime, the humans can make stronger, more potent insecticide.

Wriggle: ......

Aya: And then you gather up all the unaffected bugs, and increase their number again, and if you keep doing that...

Wriggle: Why don’t they just make a completely lethal insecticide?

Aya: The humans have to make sure the insecticide won’t hurt themselves, too, so there’s a limit to how strong they can make it. Once that limit is reached, bugs will no longer be defeated by humans.

Wriggle: I see. It sounds like it would take a long time, so I should get to work...

Aya: But please feed the birds, too.

Profile

Wriggle Nightbug

A youkai who has an ability to control insects. Since she is also an insect herself, she is vulnerable to coldness and insecticide.

Appearances: Imperishable Night