Commerce and expansion among the archipeligo brought an inevitable need for a faster way to transport cargo among the floating islands. After the Calamity, the Desmodon came across a species of beetle that had been infused with magic by a Mezznian Shard. The size and relative intelligence of the beetles made them easy to train and their strength made them efficient at quickly transferring goods from one island to another.
The beetle's are loyaly to a large degree, developing a strong bond for their masters, but will quickly turn on them if treated unkindly, disappearing without a trace. While they are largly used for transporting large items, they can be trained to help with heavy farmwork.
The beetles have two pronounched hind legs and six front legs that serve to help the insect crawl or carry goods while flying. Aside fromt heir size, the most notable effect of the Shard was the intense ultraviolet glow that eminates from the beetle's underbelly and various joints. At night, the they leave behind astonishing light trails as they go about their work.
The beetles have no distinct gender and any of the beetles are capable of both fertilizing and laying eggs. Eggs hatch after eight weeks and the larvae spend the first eight weeks of their life in the hive before developing wings and venturing outward.
Once the beetles reach adulthood, they are highly adaptable and can live in nearly any climate. However, their eggs have only been successfully hatched on the hovering archipeligo near where the original nest was infected by the Shard. Thus, when spring arrives, the beetles will instinctively return to the floating islands until their eggs have hatched.
During this time, many of Zantyra's inhabitants visit the archipeligo to see the vibrant displays of light emminating from within and around the hive.
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