Post by A®heim on Jan 1, 2010 17:24:12 GMT -5
Species Name: Zyphter
Species Type: insect
Planet of Origin: Aiaru
Average Maximum age: 3 months
Age of Maturation: 2 months
Average Height: 1 cm
Average Weight: 1 g
Notable biological features: ornate wing patterns, stinger, combustion chamber, spinarettes
Number of limbs and Type: 6 legs, 4 wings
Culture:
Zyphters are a rather common site on Aiaru, considered an exotic beauty by visitors and dangerous pests by locals. Found everywhere from dark households to the small swarms that patrol the wilderness to the towering web-hives they construct on rolling sands and grassy plains, these insects play a major role in the planet's ecosystem.
Marvels of evolution, zyphters are capable of producing a bright light inside their abdomens (like a firefly), spinning webs, and stinging threats to the hive. The most amazing thing about these traits is that they are all accomplished using the same chemical catalyst. Too caustic to be properly analyzed (ie. combusting in contact with most known gasses), the exact amino acid build-up of it is still unknown to the galaxy (I know it...but it's a secret...yeah).
In addition to producing light with the inclusion of another luminous biochemical and hardening protein into webs, this chemical alone is incredibly dangerous to most organic lifeforms. In small amounts (2-3 stings), it has proven lethal within minutes to an average adult male human. Reacting with several elements commonly found in living tissues, the flesh around the wound will immediately begin to entropy, often until the entire limb dissolves if not treated immediately. Several medicines will slow the disintegration, but the only permanant treatment is to amputate the limb before the toxin can spread to the rest of the body. (Note: DO NOT attempt to suck out the poison, it will absorb into your mouth and you will BOTH die)
Prey (often other insects, but swarms may feed on larger organisms) is captured in the zyphter's colony webs (collaboratively constructed by a hive or swarm) where it is immediately set upon by several individuals who busy themselves injecting it with their venom and wrapping it in more web. After the prey has entropied into nutrient mush, the hive may feed off of it by inserting their small proboscis into the cacoon and drinking what's left of the prey. Frightening things have been found in zyphter webs including several incidents of humanoid cacoons but nothing solid left within to identify the victim.
In large, open areas, zyphters will build towering web-hives constructed out of their webbing that will serve as shelter for food, eggs, and themselves. Coated with a higher protein to chemical ratio, the outside of the web-hive is incredibly hard capable of resisting military grade blaster rifles and even high-speed impacts of a landspeeder (this will end badly for you if you test either of these. DON'T DO IT!).
The bioluminescence of these creatures serves only to attract a mate. The light is bright, but brief flash of blue and has been said to be quite a sight when an entire web-hive twinkles at night.
Eggs are layed through the stinger into prey caccoons that have been stored in a special chamber. When they hatch, the larval forms of the zyphters feed off of the nutrient mush around them until they eventually consume the protein caccoons and crawl free. They will then be cared for by the nursery caste until they spin their crysalis. After 2-3 weeks, the zyphter will hatch from the crysalis in full adult form. If a crysalis goes unhatched for more than 4 weeks, the zyphter will be deemed dead and the crysalis is injected with venom to later feed another brood.
Zyphter Castes
Workers - these zyphter are responsible for maintaining the web-hive's structure. Their protein-rich web compound is ideal for strengthening the infrastructure, but is no good for spinning prey webs. Found only in web-hive societies.
Hunters - responsible for collecting food for the hive/swarm, these zyphters use their potent venom to subdue prey and then carry it back to the web-hive.
Soldiers - these zyphters are responsible for protecting the web-hive from intruders. Swarming from the tunnels at the slightest disturbance, these will pursue and kill anything they believe caused it. Found only in web-hive societies.
Nurses - these zyphters watch over the larva and crysalis in the incubation chambers. They feed the larva and are also reponsible for injecting dead crysali. Found only in web-hive societies.
Webbers - erecting prey webs is the duty of these zyphters. Rigging up large, sticky webs in areas of high insect activity, they must only keep them in good condition with the hunters duty being to subdue, and "package up" the prey. The webbers are allowed to feed from the caccoons at any time. Found only in swarm societies.
History:
Well known on the planet, locals know how to avoid the dangers of these creatures and view them mainly as pests. An old saying on Aiaru is "a pest who pesters the zyphters hive, will be a pest no longer nor be alive". Otherwise, zyphters are generally non-aggresive unless provoked and even swarms will often make themselves known before stinging. The risk of loosing members of the swarm is not worth attacking every large creature if simply scaring it off is possible. This is almost always possible as the only creatures immune to zyphter venom are the docile magnalui who pose no ill will towards swarms. However, as magnalui feed on the food stores and workers within web-hive societies, zyphters of web-hives will viciously attack magnalui on sight, often to no avail.
The chemical catalyst used by the zyphters is studied extensively by the mysterious Stellar Mythics of Aiaru who use it in their alchemy, as well as by the battle mythics in many of their weaponry.
Species Type: insect
Planet of Origin: Aiaru
Average Maximum age: 3 months
Age of Maturation: 2 months
Average Height: 1 cm
Average Weight: 1 g
Notable biological features: ornate wing patterns, stinger, combustion chamber, spinarettes
Number of limbs and Type: 6 legs, 4 wings
Culture:
Zyphters are a rather common site on Aiaru, considered an exotic beauty by visitors and dangerous pests by locals. Found everywhere from dark households to the small swarms that patrol the wilderness to the towering web-hives they construct on rolling sands and grassy plains, these insects play a major role in the planet's ecosystem.
Marvels of evolution, zyphters are capable of producing a bright light inside their abdomens (like a firefly), spinning webs, and stinging threats to the hive. The most amazing thing about these traits is that they are all accomplished using the same chemical catalyst. Too caustic to be properly analyzed (ie. combusting in contact with most known gasses), the exact amino acid build-up of it is still unknown to the galaxy (I know it...but it's a secret...yeah).
In addition to producing light with the inclusion of another luminous biochemical and hardening protein into webs, this chemical alone is incredibly dangerous to most organic lifeforms. In small amounts (2-3 stings), it has proven lethal within minutes to an average adult male human. Reacting with several elements commonly found in living tissues, the flesh around the wound will immediately begin to entropy, often until the entire limb dissolves if not treated immediately. Several medicines will slow the disintegration, but the only permanant treatment is to amputate the limb before the toxin can spread to the rest of the body. (Note: DO NOT attempt to suck out the poison, it will absorb into your mouth and you will BOTH die)
Prey (often other insects, but swarms may feed on larger organisms) is captured in the zyphter's colony webs (collaboratively constructed by a hive or swarm) where it is immediately set upon by several individuals who busy themselves injecting it with their venom and wrapping it in more web. After the prey has entropied into nutrient mush, the hive may feed off of it by inserting their small proboscis into the cacoon and drinking what's left of the prey. Frightening things have been found in zyphter webs including several incidents of humanoid cacoons but nothing solid left within to identify the victim.
In large, open areas, zyphters will build towering web-hives constructed out of their webbing that will serve as shelter for food, eggs, and themselves. Coated with a higher protein to chemical ratio, the outside of the web-hive is incredibly hard capable of resisting military grade blaster rifles and even high-speed impacts of a landspeeder (this will end badly for you if you test either of these. DON'T DO IT!).
The bioluminescence of these creatures serves only to attract a mate. The light is bright, but brief flash of blue and has been said to be quite a sight when an entire web-hive twinkles at night.
Eggs are layed through the stinger into prey caccoons that have been stored in a special chamber. When they hatch, the larval forms of the zyphters feed off of the nutrient mush around them until they eventually consume the protein caccoons and crawl free. They will then be cared for by the nursery caste until they spin their crysalis. After 2-3 weeks, the zyphter will hatch from the crysalis in full adult form. If a crysalis goes unhatched for more than 4 weeks, the zyphter will be deemed dead and the crysalis is injected with venom to later feed another brood.
Zyphter Castes
Workers - these zyphter are responsible for maintaining the web-hive's structure. Their protein-rich web compound is ideal for strengthening the infrastructure, but is no good for spinning prey webs. Found only in web-hive societies.
Hunters - responsible for collecting food for the hive/swarm, these zyphters use their potent venom to subdue prey and then carry it back to the web-hive.
Soldiers - these zyphters are responsible for protecting the web-hive from intruders. Swarming from the tunnels at the slightest disturbance, these will pursue and kill anything they believe caused it. Found only in web-hive societies.
Nurses - these zyphters watch over the larva and crysalis in the incubation chambers. They feed the larva and are also reponsible for injecting dead crysali. Found only in web-hive societies.
Webbers - erecting prey webs is the duty of these zyphters. Rigging up large, sticky webs in areas of high insect activity, they must only keep them in good condition with the hunters duty being to subdue, and "package up" the prey. The webbers are allowed to feed from the caccoons at any time. Found only in swarm societies.
History:
Well known on the planet, locals know how to avoid the dangers of these creatures and view them mainly as pests. An old saying on Aiaru is "a pest who pesters the zyphters hive, will be a pest no longer nor be alive". Otherwise, zyphters are generally non-aggresive unless provoked and even swarms will often make themselves known before stinging. The risk of loosing members of the swarm is not worth attacking every large creature if simply scaring it off is possible. This is almost always possible as the only creatures immune to zyphter venom are the docile magnalui who pose no ill will towards swarms. However, as magnalui feed on the food stores and workers within web-hive societies, zyphters of web-hives will viciously attack magnalui on sight, often to no avail.
The chemical catalyst used by the zyphters is studied extensively by the mysterious Stellar Mythics of Aiaru who use it in their alchemy, as well as by the battle mythics in many of their weaponry.
