Lovebugs

Among the myriad of odd forms that life takes, there is one which uses a strange form of communication. These are the love bugs. They are so called because they can be used to produce an odor which acts as an aphrodisiac on both male and female humanoids, and because of the heart-shape found on their upper elytra. But their odiferous form of communication goes far beyond this useful purpose. These so-called Lovebugs are classified in a group of insects known as stink bugs. They release a noxious gas if they are crushed to death. This is the combination of the various chemicals that these bugs use for communication. These insects are found in both Northern and southern temperate deciduous forests. They are particularly fond of Phlox as a food source. They enjoy laying their eggs on the underside of rocky ledges high enough to be out of reach of non-flying predators. Woodsmen who live in this creature's range know to be aware of the smells on the air. For instance, one Ranger noted the smell of roses thick upon the breeze followed by a flight of the Lovebugs. Apparently, this rosy smell was a warning that death was imminent, because shortly thereafter a forest fire burned through the region. Those with a great sense of smell can discern other scents used by the bugs. A vinegar odor means food is plentiful here. The smell of lilacs indicates that a safe haven has been found. The earthy smell that is similar to a potato lets other love bugs know that this is a good place for laying eggs. And of course, there is the lemony scented mate attractant. Men are known to lock their daughters up during this insects mating season to protect them from men who have inhaled this lovely scent. These bugs certainly use other scents to communicate other messages, but most of these are too faint to be perceived by humanoids. All in all, these creatures are fairly harmless to humanoids. They are collected by young and old alike to be sold to Alchemists who produce love potions extracted from these wonderful creatures.