Mitneiren

Basic Information

Anatomy

This insect has a standard six legs, tough exoskeleton, and segmented body with a head, thorax, and abdomen. Its eyes are situated on the corners of the top of its head and are domed to give it a nearly 360 degree view of its surroundings. It has shearing mouth-parts designed to removed tiny pieces of dead flesh. It also has a retractable stinger in its abdomen. They have wing casings like a beetle and fully developed wings in adulthood.

Genetics and Reproduction

A male and female mitneiren mate on rocks or plants, after which the male dies. The female lives long enough to find a suitable animal to host her offspring, then stings it, and tracks it to where it died. She then chews her way inside the fresh corpse and lays her eggs before dying, as well. The eggs hatch within a few weeks and use the corpse as a haven and food source until they have picked the bones clean.

Growth Rate & Stages

Once they have eaten their nest, young mitneiren scatter over the mountains to hunt for food on their own. They gradually grow wings and are fully capable of flight around the end of spring or beginning of summer and are considered adults. The insects hunt and have little to do with one another until the first snow falls. Then, females release pheromones indicating they are ready to mate. Once they find a suitable male, they mate and the male dies and the female flies off in search of a host for her eggs.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Mitneirens are carnivorous, usually eating prey far larger than themselves. They sting their prey and follow it until it dies, then nest in its corpse until they have eaten most of its meat or until an Illerosian mountain mole comes along, their only natural predator. Since their venom is costly to make, mitneirens will often make a threat display before stinging by buzzing their wings and rapidly opening and closing their wing casings. This creates a clacking and/or buzzing sound and allows them to flash their vibrant colors, alerting trespassers of their venomous nature.
Their sting contains a neurotoxin that burns like fire at the sting site, a sensation that gradually spreads through the victim's body over the course of an hour. After the first hour, the burning sensation gradually stops, beginning again at the sting site, as the toxin simply destroys the nervous system, eventually causing death.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Throughout the Illeros mountains and sometimes in the eastern foothills.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

A mitneiren can detect the pheromones of another of its species from several miles away in order to find a mate. When it stings, it leaves another type of pheromone on its victim, which it can track to the same distance.

Lifespan

About one year.

Average Length

2 to 4 cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Red, shiny carapace with white streaks and black legs.