Timeeater Bug

The magic in all things can sometimes be seen in some of the more stranger things.

In this case, the Timeeater Bug is a creature that feeds by creating little vortexes of stillness, freezing its often larger prey before releasing a pheromone that draws in more of its kind to consume the still living creature. A fan of small to medium mammals and marsupials, the bug is found in dry, rocky crags and around the mouths of caves, taking advantage of the change in light to mount their ambush attacks.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Part beetle, part mantis with long thin legs on a thick thorax and abdomen. Its forearms are long spikes built for pinioning off the flesh of the mammals it feasts on. It has two sets of mandibles, one for cutting and the other for burrowing chews, dragging and pulling flesh into its hungry maw.

Its pheromone glands run in lines down its abdomen, exuding a pungent and easily vapourised gel that attracts more of its kind to join in feast.

Under its hard back, it has 6 wings, small and stubby allowing it more a prolonged glide than true flight.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

No current use of the vortices of time stillness has been achieved for most attempts of capturing the spell have either ended in death by the Timeater bug swarms, or escaping of the sample.

Death by squishing has just released more of the pheromone gel, which has just drawn more bugs to the ecologists or mages in question.

Locals know that like a poisinous snake, the timeeater bug is best avoided if seen. Seeing them is a good sign of hidden mammals in the bush around the moss clutch, as the absence indicates a season of migration and a likely hibernation of the local vegetation.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Found mainly in the Moss Clutch region of Levis and down to just above the Starberry fields, bordering west to the mountains and east to Brambleberry.

Average Length

Up to 6cm with a 1.5cm width

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dappled black and brown, becoming irredesent blue/cyan when feeding as its abdomen ignites in colour.