#aquatic caterpillar

[anipgarden]

Experimenting with new phone camera vibes.

It gets fairly pixelated (in my opinion) if you zoom further than 3x (15x is offered but pretty rough) but it gets really nice quality stuff at 1x if you get riiiiiiight up to the thing

[wanderingokali]

Okalivember day 11, parasitoid!

The alarikti, or "comet wasps", are a diverse family of colorful parasitoid wasps.

The twin-tailed alarikti preys on a species of moth, and more specifically its caterpillar. It digs little holes in sandy soil where it drags its prey into after paralyzing it.

The sunset alarikti lays its eggs in the larvae of beetles inside dead, rotting wood. It spends a lot of time inspecting any dead tree it finds until it finds a suitable host.

The darling-faced alarikti is named after its large, cute golden eyes, with pseudopupils that seem to follow you around. It preys on aquatic fly larvae.

The fallen-star alarikti dwells in leaf litter, rarely flying and preferring to hunt on the ground for its larva's meal; a ground beetle.

[bogleech]

i keep wanting to draw anthro maggots but they end up looking like beetle larvae instead- any ideas on how one might stylize a maggot person to make it a little more distinctly A Maggot? it's especially hard to me bc maggots are like THE MOST featureless insect larvae.... which i suppose counts as a defining feature in and of itself- but i dunno. im mostly just curious to hear your approach!!!

Yeah beetle grubs, caterpillars and a lot of other insect larvae have armored heads with complete jaws structures as well as six little legs, plus they often have a defined looking "top" and "bottom" with ridged and wrinkles almost like they got soft armored down their back

But maggots are weird! They streamlined EVERYTHING down to where they have no legs at all, not even vestigial ones, and their body segments almost evolved towards something like radial symmetry by being the same all the way around!

Then there's the fact that they sort of lost most of a "head." Not only is there no exoskeletal cranial case (bug skull) to protect it but there are no jaws and never any eyes; there's just a little hole for drinking liquefied food, a pair of tusk-like hooks for gripping surfaces, and a pair of eye-like knobs that are actually chemosensory (noses)

The weird, tiny walrus-face is totally unique! They don't have any chewing mouthparts because they only need to "drink" the particles of rotting matter they live on, and like adult flies, they help this along by secreting digestive enzymes!

Maggots also have these very distinct, furry looking bands at every segment, which help them grip surfaces like a tire tread or the sole of a shoe. If you compare this photo with the one above you'll also notice how the segments can retract in and out like a telescope!

The last special thing about common maggot anatomy is that they are technically semi-aquatic animals, because maggots evolved to be buried head-first completely in their own food as much as possible and rotten corpses are WET. In order to breathe, maggots have a pair of breathing spiracles on their rear ends, which they try to keep exposed to the air!

There are exceptions to all of this, though; there are species that can be fully aquatic, fully terrestrial, herbivorous, parasitic or predatory, and some ancient fly groups (including mosquitoes!) whose larvae still have fully armored heads and even eyes. Everything above is universal to the maggots you find in rotten stuff though, so what most people think of when they hear the term :) When I designed a hybrid human and blowfly maggot for the Mortasheen setting I deliberately made it look like a doofy cartoon Walrus, and I gave its segments large spines that can be seen in some parasitic maggots, including botflies:

And when I made a maggot character for my webcomic Awful Hospital I designed her like a little spacesuit or a parka (the resemblance to Kenny was an accident)

Actually I don't think I ever shared this most recent "main artwork" of Maggie. I don't know what idea inspiration any of this might provide but basically a maggot is a prickly living sock with fangs. Or I guess from a design and engineering perspective, a maggot is a biological drill. The tiny end starts a hole, the rest of the body is just a flaring cone perfectly equipped to keep making the hole deeper.

[espighty]

Alright Espighty,

Tell me of the anatomy of bugs in your au.

I need to know

Ok, SO. In my COTL canon, most creatures actually still have their species-specific breathing systems. Bugs still have spiracles, fish still have gills, etc. They have all evolved to have a psuedo-lung system so they can talk like mammals can, but that's the only function the pseudo-lungs have. The species-specific respiratory systems are what actually get oxygen into the blood.

For instance, Leshy.

I like to think he has spiracles on his sides like a caterpillar. They're just behind his short extra arms. It's part of why he prefers to wear just a cloak instead of a full outfit. He doesn't really like having to breathe through fabric. (It's just a personal taste thing. Some bugs are ok with it, some aren't.)

This also ties in to why Leshy does the little 'raptor hands' pose all the time. Whenever he's standing still, he will unconsciously hold his arms out of the way of his spiracles. It's a worm mannerism. Most other worms do it too.

Shamura is a bit of a special case, but I ultimately decided to just give them a similar system placement to Leshy.

They are one of the aforementioned "bugs who do not mind wearing regular clothes".

And then for the fish side of things, Kallamar.

Aquatic creatures can breathe underwater and on land. However, they do still need some level of moisture. If the gills get too dry, breathing becomes extremely uncomfortable, even painful, and it gets significantly harder to get enough oxygen. It's not necessarily enough to suffocate, but it's very unpleasant and best avoided. Anchordeep had enough dew in the air that aquatic creatures could breathe very easily, but for those that live elsewhere, it's common practice to wrap damp cloth around the gills. Which is why I always draw Kallamar with the scarf. It helps him breathe.

[fafnir19]

A swimming lesson

It was another typical day at school, and as usual, I found myself in the crosshairs of Mr. Coachman's disdain. My name is Tristan, and I am what one might call an "unsporty" student. Thin, nerdy, and full of useless facts, I was the kid who always got picked last in gym class. Mr Coachman, a former athlete turned sport and philosophy teacher, had no patience for my know-it-all attitude. He believed that my incessant need to correct everyone was hindering the class and, quite frankly, his sanity. One day, Mr. Coachman approached me after yet another unnecessary correction during PE. He offered me a chance to improve my abysmal grades in sports by taking extra swimming lessons with him. Reluctantly, I agreed, desperate to boost my overall GPA. At our first swimming session, Mr. Coachman handed me a peculiar-looking swimming cap. He claimed it would allow me to hear and see his instructions directly in my head. I thought he was out of his mind, but upon putting on the cap, I realized it actually worked. It was a surreal experience, feeling Mr. Coachman's voice and visual cues echoing in my mind as I swam. The instructions were crystal clear, making it easier to perfect my stroke and improve my technique in record time. Weeks later, Mr. Coachman, noticing my progress, approached me with a new pair of swim goggles. He said they would help me focus better in the pool. Skeptical yet willing to try anything, I put them on and dove in. As soon as the water enveloped me, I felt a heightened sense of concentration. The outside world disappeared, and all that mattered was the water beneath me. Mr. Coachman's voice became a distant echo, guiding me through each stroke and turn. It was as if the goggles had transformed me into a single-minded swimming machine.

Mr Coachman observed my newfound dedication and satisfaction. I was exhausted from the intense swim training, which left me with no energy to display my usual know-it-all tendencies in class.

Several weeks later, Mr Coachman's next request gave me pause. He presented me with a slim blue Speedo and promised that it would enhance my speed in the water. There was just one catch—I had to shave off all my body hair. He argued that professional swimmers did it all the time for better speed and reduced resistance. I protested vehemently. "Shave off all my body hair? Are you out of your mind?" I exclaimed, my voice filled with disbelief. Mr Coachman, with a grin on his face, replied, "Of course not, Tristan! It's a small sacrifice in pursuit of greatness. Trust me, you'll thank me later." I crossed my arms stubbornly, determined to resist this outrageous demand. "Absolutely not! I'll wear the Speedo, but I draw the line at shaving my body hair. It's like asking a caterpillar to give up its fuzzy coat!" Mr Coachman's smile didn't falter, and he simply said, "Suit yourself, Tristan. But just remember, the pros do it for a reason." His words lingered in the air as an internal struggle waged within me. The temptation to conform and become the ultimate swimmer clashed with my natural inclination to rebel against such absurdity. In the end, though, curiosity won over. I figured, if I could endure the grueling training and wear these magical swimming items, what harm could a little body hair removal do? With a hesitant sigh, I finally agreed to Mr. Coachman's request. Trudging to the bathroom, I grabbed a razor, examining its gleaming blade with trepidation. As I stood before the mirror, thoughts of caterpillars and metamorphosis floated through my mind. I wondered if shaving off my body hair would truly transform me into a swimming powerhouse. With each stroke of the razor, I felt a mix of excitement and unease. Whiskers and hairs fell, leaving behind smooth, hairless skin. Trapped in my thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder what my friends would say or how they would react when they discovered my newfound aquatic obsession and hairless body. Finally, once all the hair was gone, I took a long look at my smooth reflection. It was a strange sight, almost otherworldly. I felt a mix of vulnerability and exhilaration, like a sea creature shedding its scales and emerging anew. Standing tall in my hairless glory, I slipped into the slim blue Speedo. Ready or not, I was about to dive into the next chapter of this bizarre journey, hoping that my shaved body would indeed prove to be a worthwhile sacrifice in the pursuit of greatness. Emerging from the water for the first time in my stylish Speedo, I had transformed. My physique resembled that of a Greek statue, not an ounce of body fat in sight. I was an athletic swimmer, a force to be reckoned with.

With my old clothes no longer fitting, Mr. Coachman outfitted me with a tight beige chino and a light blue shirt.

As I squeezed myself into the outfit, I couldn't help but complain about looking like a preppy dork. However, Mr. Coachman assured me that it was all about how I wore the clothes. Skillfully, he rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, unbuttoned the top buttons, and stood back to appraise his handiwork. "Aren't you a handsome devil?" he remarked with a satisfied grin.

Surprisingly, I found myself thanking him, swallowed by a sense of excitement and self-confidence that I had never experienced before. Something about Mr. Coachman's approval made me feel alive and validated, even if I couldn't pinpoint exactly why I had become so susceptible to his influence. And thus, Mr. Coachman's cunning plan had come to fruition. Those magical swimming accouterments had not only transformed me into a skilled swimmer but also had slowly but surely chipped away at my once-sturdy resistance. When I wore all three items—cap, goggles, and Speedo—I was utterly beholden to his every command, a true embodiment of the "perfect student-athlete" he had envisioned from the onset. Now a member of the swim team, I had gone from a nerdy outcast to a charming and good-looking athlete, the joy of all my teachers. But deep down, I couldn't help but wonder if Mr. Coachman's methods were entirely ethical. Regardless, I was living proof of his success, and the sensation of hearing Mr. Coachman's voice and visualizing his instructions while wearing the cap and goggles had left an indelible mark on my perception of swimming, forever changing the way I experienced the water.

[dragimalsdaydreams]

[image ID: several cartoony diagrams and infographics of Melusines from the game Genshin Impact, but re-imagined as nudibranch-like creatures.

the first image is a diagram of a Melusine's basic anatomy. they're shaped like typical nudibranch sea slugs, with a mantle over top a muscular foot. the front half of the body is lifted up, with the rounded head facing forward. a couple of round, antennae-like rhinophores sprout from the head, with the text, "scent and water/air currents provide sense of spatial awareness." a mass of rounded, feathery gills sprout from the back end of the mantle, just above the foot. ocelli/eyespots sit on the head just in front of the rhinophores, with text reading, "wide range of color vision, poor depth perception." five sets of legs are situated underneath the body, with the foot partly hanging over the lower legs. these legs are much like caterpillar prolegs-- chunky and short, hydraulically powered, with cup-like suction grippers. the two front sets of legs are lifted up above the ground, with the lifted half of the body, and have slimmer grippers that look modified for grasping.

a doodle below shows the Melusine walking with all five sets of legs, with text reading, "'rippling' walking motion. they normally walk on just the lower 3 sets, but can use all 5 sets. usually reserved for running." another doodle shows the Melusine swimming flat in the water, with text reading, "legs pull up into body cavity when swimming. foot extends out farther and provides wavelike locomotion."

another doodle shows the Melusine slowly forming around a mechanical gear, with text reading, "Elynas goop clung to 'tokens' over time, leading to current forms."

the next image show a simple doodle of Melusine skin covered by a layer of Hydro particles, with oxygen molecules in the air gathering towards the Hydro. nearby text reads, "Hydro layers over the skin on land, protecting Melusines from desiccation and sun damage, and providing support to their soft bodies. Melusines can also pull oxygen and water from the air through the Hydro layer, breathing and retaining moisture as they would in water."

below that we see a human hand patting a Melusine on the head, with text reading, "the Hydro layer also provides some protection from physical damage. touching a Melusine, one would only feel the cool, smooth, somewhat rubbery surface of the moisture-wicking Hydro layer, rather than the truly moist, slimy skin of the Melusine. this layer can technically be broken, but it's difficult to break the molecular bonds outside of elemental damage."

below that is a doodle of a healthy Melusine on land in Fontaine, then that same Melusine on land anywhere else, laying on the ground dried up and dying. nearby text reads, "this semi-aquatic lifestyle is only possible in Fontaine's heavy Hydro concentration (arguably Watatsumi as well)."

the next image starts with text reading, "Melusines can change their color/patterns, and their language is based in complex color/pattern cues. each Melusine has developed unique color/pattern preference over time, so communication rules/cues vary widely between individuals. (though they've learned to telepathically communicate using common human languages, with Neuvillette's help)." a doodle below that shows two Melusine staring blankly at one another, with text reading, "having a heated argument (they've been completely silent and still for 10 minutes, but their patterns are rapidly shifting)."

a short comic sits below that, starting with text reading, "*early in Sigewinne's career*" Sigewinne-- a light blue Melusine with pink accents, wearing a white nurse's cap-- stands silent, staring into a box at her feet. Wriothesley the human stands nearby, thinking to himself, "Hm, Sigewinne hasn't moved in a while." grabbing Sigewinne's attention, Wriothesley says, "doin' alright there, Sigewinne?" Sigewinne flips through a yellow book with the title, "Human Expressions for Dummies" with a simplified Melusine mascot on the cover. then she turns back to Wriothesley to telepathically yell, "No, I'm not!!!" with angry eyebrows and a cartoonish pulsing vein on her head, created using color patterns on her face. Wriothesley simply replies, "Ah."

the next image shows many different Melusines, with text reading, "Wide variation in body, rhinophore, and gill shape." indeed, some Melusines are thin and tall, others are short and round, while others are stocky and squared-off. some have thin, upturned snouts, while others have short, stubby snouts, or blocky, drooping snouts. some of their rhinophores are thin and straight, or round and curved, or branch/antler-like, or have more pronounced nodes/ridges. some of their gills are bulbous and pointed, or thin and wavy, or feathery, or branch-like, and some Melusine even have extra gills higher up on their bodies. all of these Melusines have different colors and patterns, with text reading, "Melusines can be found in all colors across the spectrum (including colors humans can't see), but individuals usually prefer a few specific colors."

a doodle below shows off Sigewinne's present-day outfit. she's wearing a white nurse's cap tied to her head with a pink bow, on top of a grey wig with a bob cut and curling bangs. a white apron with blue hearts and pink ribbons is tied to her front, with a two-tier cut to allow her front legs to move freely. another white apron with pink and blue bows is tied across to her back, covering most of it. nearby text reads, "no concept of nudity, clothes are just fun accessories. wigs are both exotic accessories, and a way to show kinship with humans."

below that is text reading, "Melusines usually darken their tones outdoors, for extra sun protection." a nearby doodle shows a pale Melusine indoors, then that same Melusine outdoors, her colors visibly darker.

the final image is an edit of a meme, reading, "If a Melusine wore pants, would she wear them like this or like this?" above two drawings of the same Melusine. in the first, the Melusine is wearing jeans cut to fit around her three lower sets of legs and the bottom edge of the foot. in the second, she's wearing jeans cut to fit around the back end of her body and last set of legs, covering the back end of the foot and mantle, and cut around the gills.

end ID]

I swear I had no idea it was nudibranch day yesterday, this was just a happy coincidence LMAO

anyways, I hate how Melusines look in-game, so I decided to make them Actual Slugs b/c that's objectively cuter. obvious nudibranch base design, but I added in some planaria and caterpillar elements for the eyes and legs, respectively. it's a bit goofy, but I'm real happy with how it all turned out <3

also sorry if the Sigewinne comic isn't true to her early career, personality, or her relationship w/ Wrio. we haven't seen her much yet, and tbh I didn't rly care to look into her current lore all that deeply

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I've been dreaming of the Undersea Advisor.

In life, there are many variables to account for. Ah, but variables can be manipulated.

He remakes the world in his image.

How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die?

There are several little glass containers, lined up in a neat row, on his work bench. He is the master, and this is his craft: pocket dimensions, each with a different biome bottled.

Here is a lush garden with enchanted roses and caterpillars that blow smoke, and a savanna where miniature beasts race about. A desert with its own oasis--a massive scarab running amok, a regal castle he had painstakingly constructed with a pair of tweezers for a peacock no bigger than his thumb... He had even somehow managed to create a sleek building blinking blue lights and a crumbling chateau overrun with moss and bite-size bats.

His current project is a bowl of salt water, a layer of sand decorated with seaweed and coral at the bottom. He had taken the liberty of tucking fake jewels, a plastic treasure box, and a model of a sunken ship in.

For flair, he chuckles to himself. All that's left is to find proper aquatic specimens to house in it.

From the doorway, Jade adjusts the straps on his backpack, making sure that they're secure, that his supplies are in order. His boots laced, his jacket buttoned, he marches out the door and into the wilderness.

The forest is quiet and without trees but is not devoid of life.

Instead of trunks, there are stems--plump, pillowy, in various shades of white and cream. They are wider at the base and narrower at the head, which gives way to fluted undersides. Gills, Jade knows, a very different kind than those of a merman.

The air is clean and refreshing, lightly washed with spores. Not visible to the naked eye, but at the right refractions of sunlight, Jade can see them dancing into shapes upon the wind.

Circular shadows are cast across the ground, belonging to the caps that tower far above him. Mushrooms--macro-sized--have taken over the feet of the mountain, making it a suitable hideout for his hobbies. Sunlight spills through the cracks between the clustered caps, forming golden pools along the forest floor.

Jade makes a game of hopping upon them, one by one.

It isn't long before he comes upon the stream that cuts through the heart of the wood. A thin and humble little thing, able to be crossed in a single stride of his long legs.

Jade drops his backpack and drops to one knee. He inspects the fresh water up close with a careful eye. It's clear and still at the edges, white and foamy in the center, where it flows the fastest.

His heart leaps when he sees it--a streak of silver darting by.

He kicks off his footwear and rolls his pants up, silently stepping into the stream. Jade is cautious about not splashing, to avoid making noises or movements as that would disturb the wildlife.

He stands there, watching. Waiting, waiting, for that next fish to pass.

He thinks he sees it, a glimmer laid deep in the water. He reaches for it, fingers grazing wetness, but does not complete the grab.

“You like that, don’t you? The feeling of being in control, a life dancing in your palm,” a musical voice rings out. “It grants you security, assuredness.”

His eyes flicker down. His reflection shifts in the churning water, but he can see its mouth moving when his doesn’t.

An obstacle—amusing.

Jade purses his lips into a patient smile. “Oya, does a pixie presume to know those who visit their forest?”

“I am no pixie. In this pool of tears, all is laid bare,” his reflection says, “and given truth.”

“You claim to speak the truth. If that is the case, then you take no issue with divulging sensitive state secrets?” Jade’s smile grows, turning sharp. “To demonstrate your veracity, of course. I do not intend to misuse the information.”

“I know that you lie as easily as you breathe,” the pool replies, “for I have knowledge of only the souls that gaze into me.”

“A shame. I was quite curious about your awe-inspiring powers. Alas, there are limits put on greatness. It appears as though a puddle can never match the ocean in size nor in bounty.”

His reflection is not irked by his needling. “If you wish to take, then you must offer up a piece of yourself of equal value.”

“You have said that I lie as easily as I breathe. Is the word of a liar worth its salt?”

“You must speak truthfully.”

“But if I am a liar, and you have assumed my appearance, does that not, by proxy, make you a liar as well? That means what was uttered earlier is a lie, and I must tell an untruth—which I have already provided.”

The reflection pauses, considering the logic. Slow horror dawns on its expression—stolen from him—and it glowers.

"Liar," the reflection bitterly spits. It vanishes into the frothing waters.

There's a sigh, then the shudder of a release that fills the forest of mushrooms. Something, somewhere, has shattered.

Silver fills the clear stream, coloring it one shiny, metallic shade. Fins and scales bat against his skin. Healthy, plentiful.

Jade plunges an arm elbow-deep, and--

He gasps.

Something latches onto his arm and violently tugs. He's brought face-to-face with his own shocked expression, droplets hissing at him.

The stream, Jade realizes, should not be this deep.

He resists, trying to throw his body weight back, but the force holds tight. The slimy grip tightening like a fist.

He does not to fully relish in the surprise, so rare a feeling for him, before there is another strong pull. Jade falls forward, eyes wide as the water hits him in full.

Slowly, slowly... he finds himself sinking into an abyss.

It's the sea, deep and dark, shrouded by black mist. A ship-shaped shadow looms, at the inky depths--and through holes punched in the hull, undiscovered treasures wink up at him. Chests of forgotten gold and gems, like stars blinking in and out of view.

He dangles, suspended, like a puppet left upon the stage that has closed for the night. The scene, the stands, empty, save for the vague shapes of coral and twisting tendrils of seaweed.

Something shifts among the plants, and Jade tenses, preparing for a fight.

A long shape darts by, and his gaze tracks. The markings on it glow teal, peering through the murk--he recognizes it at once, relaxing.

"Floyd."

The name bubbles up and breaks upon the surface of the stream.

His twin circles him, his weaving tail sending Jade's jacket billowing. One is in the body of a human and the other, in their true form.

Floyd wordlessly grins, showing teeth like knives.

Behind him, the shadows swirl--a mess of writhing, squishy limbs and agonized moans. Tentacles, tentacles, painting a canvas with darkness.

A voice calls from somewhere in the void.

Floaty, far away.

"... de....... ade..."

"Jade!!"

He snaps awake, drawing in a deep gulp of air. As if he had just arisen from a dive.

Jade is seated at his workbench, blanked on either side. "Floyd, Azul..."

"We came as you had instructed, but it appears that now is not a good time," his dorm leader remarks. "You were sleeping like a log when we arrived."

"So I smashed a window with a rock and we let ourselves in!" Floyd declares proudly. Azul casts him a wary look.

"Just so you are aware, I am not to be held accountable for any damages incurred," he says hastily. "It was entirely Floyd's idea--I warned him against it and had him sign a liability form to assume any and all fees, should he ignore my advice and proceed with his ill-advised plot."

"Pfft." Jade chuckles. "My apologies. I must have become so enraptured in my project that I neglected to maintain a proper sleep schedule. The fault is mine, so I will not press charges."

Azul sighs, relieved. "Now, back to the matter at hand. For what reason have you summoned us here today?"

"Ah, that." Jade holds up his fishbowl, beaming. "I wished to share this with you both."

"Mmm, what is it?" Floyd asks, peering into the container. His face comes out the other end of it stretched wide and distorted, like the result of a funhouse mirror. "Looks like just some water to me."

"Another terrarium, I suspect." Azul pushes up his glasses as he surveys the other containers on the work bench "I see, so you've made one each in the image of the dormitories at Night Raven College. This one must be Octavinelle."

He suddenly frowns.

"Wait a minute, what is this?!" Azul thrusts a finger at a round little octopus suctioned to the inside of the bowl. The area around it is clouded with wisps of black.

"Hehehe, looks like Jade was right on the money with this one. That's so you, Azul."

"I-It is NOT!!"

"Really?" Jade's brows lift. "As I recall, you were exactly like this, tears and all, when..."

"AAAAAAAAH, stop, stooooop!! D-Don't say it, I can't bear that!!"

Jade laughs--soft and musical--granting his wailing dorm leader that single mercy. His chest is warm and full, a feeling his lies don't come close to.

I believe I’ve found myself company that is much more entertaining than any world right at my fingertips.

It’s his truth, the only one he has told this entire time.

[fluffle-writes]

Alien Abduction AU - Species list + info

This is a list of the alien species and traits that I've come up with for some of the TWST characters - I mostly mushed certain animal traits together and built off of that lol. If anyone has any thoughts about my ideas then do feel free to let me know! My askbox is open for messages!

[POSTED A DRAFT BY MISTAKE - IMMA EDIT AND REBLOG THIS ONCE IT'S DONE]

Edonal

Hegehog-like aliens with a similar build to caterpillars.

Edonals are a species that is shorter by average, standing at an average height of 4'8-5'6 - although someay be taller or shorter depending on genetics.

They have eight limbs - two to four being used for walking whereas the others function as hands. Their choices on how they use their limbs can be affected by their need or desire to multitask, or the need to have extra stability for whatever reason.

Edonal communities have a mix of diurnal and nocturnal Edonals in order to maintain a smoothly running society that remains active both night and day.

Riddle, Sam

Avian

Trey (Violet-Green Swallow), Rook (Martial Eagle), Crowley (Crow)

Mairan

Butterfly or Moth-like aliens with more human-looking limbs and faces.

Mairans have eerily human-like faces and limbs, however they are often far more slender to allow their wings to lift them off of the ground. Their body - besides their wings - is protected by chitinous plating and their mouths actually open up more similarly to mandibles than human mouths.

Some species of Marian may grow soft, fluffy fur on top of their chitinous plating as an adaptation to survive colder climates or to blend in better with their surroundings.

Cater (Orange-Tipped Oakworm Moth), Vil (Mourning Cloak Butterfly), Epel (Chalk Hill Blue Butterfly)

Nelsian

Fox-like aliens with much shorter, rabbit-like, tails and stronger legs. They are also, on average, much fluffier than normal foxes unless they're adapted specifically for hot environments.

Ace (Red Fox), Kalim (Fennec Fox), Idia (Silver Fox), Ortho (Cybernetic Silver Fox)

Thesti

Canine species with a large range of appearances depending on their genetics. 'Thesti' is generally seen as an umbrella term containing many subspecies.

Deuce (Pitbull), Ruggie (Hyena), Jack (Wolf), Sebek (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel), Silver (Saluki)

Lonkat

Feline aliens with Scorpion tails and chitinous plating in some areas of the body. Lonkat Royalty is made up of those who are similar to Terran 'big cats' - whereas common society and lesser nobles are more similar to either domesticated or 'lesser cats' Such as Cheetahs or Pallas's Cats.

Leona (Lion), Trein (Persian Cat)

Chel'ir

An aquatic species that serves as an umbrella category for many subspecies.

The Chel'ir are the newest species to have joined the galactic union.

Jade, Floyd, Azul

Rilkol

Jamil

Thrican

Malleus, Sebek

Yelten

Bat-like

Lilia

[crevicedwelling]

are there any omnivore arthropods or are they exclusively carnivore or herbivore?

roaches, various beetles, and isopods are the first that come to mind, but there are many, many others!

roaches, for example, are primarily adapted for digesting plant matter with a long digestive tract (termites are just a specialized family of roaches!) but many species love meat. I’ve used my Suriname and B. dubia roaches to eat the flesh off of bones for preservation. in the wild, these roaches would take advantage of carrion and other dead insects—Suriname roaches belong to a genus often found in bat caves, and they’ll spring on any downed sickly bats or fallen pups and eat them alive.

same with isopods! they can be surprisingly predatory things, both cannibalistic and eagerly eating carrion and weakened live animals. this is why any isopod larger than 5mm is a bad choice for a cleanup crew with an arthropod pet—they will devour it as it molts. many aquatic crustaceans like crayfish and crabs also are highly generalist and will pretty much eat any old organic material they can get their claws on.

ground beetles, darkling beetles, and rove beetles span a range from generalists that eat anything to specialists on fungi, plants, or animals. caterpillars can be surprisingly cannibalistic, like corn earworms in which the largest in an ear of corn devours its smaller siblings.

there’s also a lot of bugs that are more specialist carnivores that readily eat fruit, like giant centipedes! Lucinda here loved her bananas. some spiders will eat pollen that gets blown into their webs, and there’s even a species of jumping spider that only eats little nutrient packages it steals from a tree which grew them to feed its personal ant army.

in insects that molt, there can be a switch from larva to adult! many solitary and social wasps are parasitoids or predators that as larvae feed on other insects caught for them by their mothers (solitary) or siblings (social). when they mature, they mostly drink nectar because most wasps can’t digest solid matter as adults. a similar shift is seen with many flies—mosquitoes are filter-feeding larvae that mature into nectarivorous adults in which females need to take blood to lay eggs, and houseflies or flesh flies that feed on dung or carrion as maggots primarily drink nectar as adults as well.

a fun example of a shift in diet is the click beetles I’ve tried to keep. they feed on rotten wood for the first few weeks of their lives, and after gaining some size start a predatory lifestyle hunting other wood-boring grubs with sickle-shaped mandibles. after they mature, the adult beetles feed on sweet fruits and sap.

so yes, there’s no simple carnivorous/herbivorous split between arthropods. there are many omnivorous or detritivorous arthropods that typically eat a variety of foods, but more specialized predators or herbivores will also opportunistically meet their nutritional needs. and different lifestyles for larvae and adults mean that the same insect can use very different food sources throughout its lifespan!

[luvbugonline]

List your pets insects included!

I'll do all pets I've ever had/cared for.

A

Assassin bugs (1 species)

Aquatic snails (3 species)

B

Beetles (2 species)

Bees (1 species)

C

Catfish

Cornsnake

Crested gecko

Cats (3)

Cockroaches (6 species)

Caterpillars (1 species)

Chicken

D

E

F

Fish (6 species)

False widow (1)

G

Giant snails (3 species)

H

Hedgehog

I

Isopods (10 species)

J

Jumping spiders (5)

K

Katydids

L

Loaches (1 species)

Leaf insects (1)

M

Mantis (3)

Millipedes (10 species)

Moths (1 species)

M

N

O

Orb weever (1)

P

Q

R

Rats (I am taking in 3)

S

Snakes (other species) (2)

Stick insects (2 species)

Snails (3 species)

Springtails (2 species)

Slugs (2 species)

Shrimp (1 species)

T

Tarantula (9)

Tortoise

Toad (1)

U

V

Velvet spider (1)

Y

Z

+ I have worked with various other animals / looked after them for months when people couldn't

& I live in a house with other entomology students who have other pets such as ants, scorpions, frogs, vinegaroons etc that I also commonly look after while they're away :))

[loth-creatures]

🙃 What’s a weird fact that you know?

Some moths have aquatic caterpillars!

Ask game :)

[gbssworks]

before I completely log off until new years there's something I want to say about my lil passion project you may or may not know of, the Imago game

it's still so conceptual right now but here's the jist of it

An evolutionary/life semi-permadeath sim, inspired by the diversity of life on our planet and games like Spore, Warframe, Kenshi, Rimworld. It focuses on gaining new adaptations and skills. You start off as a small caterpillar like creature, and you must consume until you're ready to find a human host and begin metamorphosis

You will encounter a new world with remnants of Earth entangled with it, as well as alien aspects, with enemies and allies (perhaps romantic interests!) that are just like you, and just as dangerous (or benign) as you. Your interactions with the world may leave an everlasting impact, or you maybe simply be a speck in existence. The choice is yours.

You may choose to develop an intergenerational hive mind and embrace the security of trying again with your own strain should an individual perish, or go your own seperate way, risking losing everything for higher reward. Either way, there will be a song that is yours, that will be unique to you and call out to others.

the artstyle of the game will be reminiscent of games like old PS game graphics Valheim and Ultrakill, with sharp angles and simple shapes, but a hint of detail with speculars and mood lighting, depending on the vision of your character.

the music system is meant to be dynamic, with an option to make your own tune should you find the adaptation for it. Various instruments and sounds are discovered alongside adaptations.

There are three major starting areas that will affect the game difficulty, Terrastial (Land), Aquatic (Water), or in Orbit

Major characters have adaptations that can only be obtained by either consumption or consummation, driving the player to follow storylines if they choose to be the best

There is NO way I can make this happen on my own. My skills are in visual arts such as illustration and perhaps a lil bit of real life modelling/sculpting, 2D texturing for game models. I have very little experience in 3D modeling or animation and rigging, my music skills are so rough, I'm kinda bad at writing any real outline of a plot, and my dialogue writing is okay but I have a very specific voice for it. So what I'm really making this post for is this, if this interests you, and you have skills in 3D modeling (perhaps Blockbench), music, sound design, voice acting, writing, coding, perhaps we could work together. I can't necessarily pay anyone as I'm scraping by on commissions, and I won't be against commissioning people for these roles when I can afford it, but I think it would be lovely to bounce ideas off someone.

It's very ambitious for one person, but it's something I want to bring to life. Hell, if I can make a cute proof of concept tamagotchi/dress up mini game I'd be ecstatic!

[wanderingokali]

Okalivember day 21, patterned!

The square-spot eyed worm is small and arboreal. It wriggles up the trunk of trees with very textured bark and makes a small net out of silk to hang out in while it eats leaves.

The jedayani is a terrestrial crustacean that hangs around in rock formations on beaches and gathers up dead organic matter in the open to bring back to its hiding spot to eat.

The many-spotted nudel digs in the leaf litter for its prey. They mostly go for soft-bodied animals such as slugs or caterpillars, and are immune to many of their defenses, such as urticating hairs.

The grassfield jazki swims in large, deep rivers. Mostly bottom-dwelling, they graze on algae and other aquatic plants. Their color can vary quite a bit between individuals, going between bright greens and deep blues.

[revenant-coining]

hi, I really like the aquatic, buggy, and fruity system flags you made, could you make some more? Specificlly for:

- caterpillar

- dragonfly

- butterfly

- grasshopper

- firefly

- mantis

- wasp

- lychee

- grape

- lemon

- starfruit

- dragonfruit

- pomegranate

- mango

- pear

- mangosteen

- octo

- isopod

- nautilus

- eel

Sorry if it's too much

butterfly (fem/masc/xeno presenting), caterpillar (fem/masc/nonbinary/xeno presenting), dragonfly (masc/nonbinary/xeno presenting), firefly (nonbinary/xeno presenting), grasshopper (masc/xeno presenting), mantis (xenine presenting), & wasp (masc/nonbinary presenting) (coining link) flags!

since there's an image limit the rest will be posted in a bit & linked here: fruit system flags (link) & aquatic system flags (link)!

symbol sources: butterfly (link), caterpillar (link), dragonfly (link), firefly (link), grasshopper (link), mantis (link), & wasp (link)!

tagging; @radiomogai

[crazylittlejester]

You said I could talk about moths whenever, so have a list of Links as moths. I’m so tired right now, but that doesn’t matter, because it’s mothing time. Just me rambling about moths while slapping some Links onto them based on vibes. Well, I tried to that ha.

Twi - Luna/Moon Moth. The main lime green color of the wings fits so well with the rest of his outfit. Also, moon, night, twilight? Thematic themes is theming. And fun(debatable) fact, Luna moth caterpillars vomit to scare away predators!

Wild - Uropyia meticulodina. They don’t have a common name :( but they are typically called “dead/curly leaf moths,” so I guess that’s the closest thing. They mimic dead leaves, their wings being curled. And when their wings are spread out, they are shown to be quite fluffy. And their antenna look a bit stick-like in my opinion.

Wind - Small emerald moth. Cute little moths, much love, I love for them. There are also very pretty. Their wings are more blue-green than emerald, and they have white cross lines on them. Just look at them, look at them, they make me want to move to England so I can see them. I’m probably hyping them up too much, but I love them.

Wars - Pompelon marginata moth. Also no common name I could find. Closest thing I could find is “day-flying moth,” but that’s not really a nickname. They are beautiful. Their wings are mostly black, with a striking, vibrant blue coloring on the ends. They look more like a butterfly then a moth. They are the only species in their genus, Pompelon.

Time - Imperial moth. The wings are super cool, they are yellow and rusty in color. I don’t have much to say for this sadly, but the wings do look a bit like semi-circles in some pictures I’ve seen, and that’s cool.

Sky - Atlas moth. They are big. They are one of the biggest moths in the world. The tips of their wings look like snakes. They are so cool. They are just super cool what much can I say.

Four - Madagascan sunset moth. They’re super colorful and pretty, butterfly looking ass(positive). They also drink nectar :)

Legend - Rosy maple moth. They are yellow and pink, they are his colors, and they soooo cute. I beg you to look up pictures of them and just scroll, they are so so so cute. According to one website, they are sometimes called flying kittens. I couldn’t find any other site confirming this, but I like the nickname.

Hyrule - Snowberry clearwing moth. They act like hummingbirds and are so cute. They hover when they drink nectar, like hummingbirds. I also love hummingbirds, so I might make a list of the Links as hummingbirds next. They also have a lobster-like body at the end.

Honorable mentions aka moths that almost fit:

Southern pink moth: They look so goofy and kinda ugly, but in a cute way.

Painted lichen moth: They are tiny and poisonous and also really cute.

White witch moth: Supposedly, its name comes from people trying to shoot it, but they couldn’t hit its body, leading to people thinking it was an unkillable witch.

Texas Wasp Moth: They mimic wasps but don’t have any actual stingers, they’re harmless. They’re two hind legs look like stingers, and they are so funny to look at when they are climbing.

White Plume Moth: They’re funny to look at hehe. They have feather-like wings and hold them in a T-shape.

Greater death's head hawkmoth: They are also called bee robbers, since they steal honey from honey bees.

Any aquatic moths: Some moths leave their eggs in/near water, and they have to crawl out and dry their wings. I just couldn’t look at any of them because the caterpillars and stuff started to freak me out unfortunately.

I LOOKED UP ALL OF THESE AND OH MY GOD DO THEY FIT SO WELL. AND THEYRE ALL SO PRETTY AND COOL LOOKING THANK YOU FOR SHARING THESE OMG OMG

[onenicebugperday]

@aldamiriel-necrococo submitted: I recently finished up installing a wildlife pond and have been finding these grey caterpillar lookin things with tails in the water! What on earth are they?

Also have been finding a bunch of eggs laid neatly in rows (unfortunately they got messed up here) in the curl of a vertical sagittaria latifolium leaf. Any idea what those could be from?

Also not an ID request, just exciting news that I saw my first damselfly visiting the pond yesterday!

Location is Chicago area in Illinois.

Ohhh wet children. They're rat-tail maggots, which are the aquatic larvae of certain drone flies and hoverflies (family Syrphidae, subfamily Eristalinae). I couldn't say which species at that stage, though. The eggs are fly eggs and they look exactly like what I'd expect the eggs from the rat-tail maggot flies to look like, so likely they're the same species. Hoverflies are great pollinators, so it's a very good thing to find! And hello to the damselfly as well :)