Miinu Social Heiarchy

Miinu are an incredibly diverse species, and their Bug kin can often change subtle things about their appearance, biology, and personality. These bugkin traits have affected the roles that each miinu plays in society, as well as how they are perceived by others. This allows for stereotypes to develop about certain bugkins, for better or for worse. Unfortunately, Miinu aren't a perfect, wholly accepting people, and someone's bugkin can not only effect how they are treated by others, but their social ranking and the opportunities available to them.
Ironically, the social hierarchy matches closely with how humans perceive insects, with useful and aesthetically pleasing insects being considered more desirable, while others are considered unsanitary pests and 'bad bugs'. Note that these ideals vary in intensity depending on how region, community, and of course-- person to person.

The Royalty

The top of the food chain. Includes miinu in important seats of power, and have control over a large region of land and numbers of subjects. Royalty often earn the highest respects possible, and disrespecting them is considered social suicide as well as could be legally punished.
Queens, Princesses and Princes of any colony. Queens and Princesses rank higher than Princes generally as Princes can't hold political power. Species include;

• Bees - Often ranked the highest of usefulness, due to their honey being an extremely valuable resource.


• Ants - Respected for their strength and sheer numbers. Often own the largest chunks of land and will ferociously defend it.


• Termites - Respected for their massive monuments and structures they build. The power they hold over an army of thousands of miinu workers and soldiers makes them highly respectable figures and owners of miles of land.

The Elite

Insects that are generally given higher status due to their beauty, skills, or usefulness. Usually insects that most ordinary humans find endearing.

• Butterflies, Ladybugs & Fireflies - Beloved for their dazzling body colors and lights. They are considered beautiful insects.


• Dragonflies & Damselflies - Considered beautiful and athletic, often are famous for their athletic feats.


• Scarab Beetles - Known for their dazzling iridescent shells and the gifts/offerings they receive from humans who worship them.


• Wasp Queens - An outlier in this ranking, as they would normally be at the same status as their fellow Queens, but their notorious nature for being viscous and cruel hunters create more of a sense of respectful fear than anything else.

High Class

Insects that are unique or provide a valuable service to insects.

• Moths- Admired for their cute appearances, colorful wings and their usefulness with weaving silks, but often live in Butterflies shadows.


• Horned Beetles (Rhino Beetles, Hercules Beetles, Stags, etc) - Praised for their strength and fighting skills. Often fight for glory and fame in arenas, or are found doing heavy lifting jobs in villages.


• Bee Workers - Valued in their work to pollinate flowers and gardens and provide delicious honey.


• Solitary Bees - While not supplying honey, also play an important role in keeping life-supporting gardens pollinated and often work as gardeners.


• Mantises - Respected out of fear more than anything. Though they are powerful and intelligent miinu, they often are subject to rumors of being cannibals.

The Workers

Colony insects produced by Queens. They are ranked above average miinu due to the influence they hold over most regions, but are often subjected to less rights and standards of living than even the high class miinu. They are often worked to death and are given little thanks or recognition for their work due to how similar everyone is in name and appearance.
Includes;

• Ants
• Termites

Middle Class

Everyone in between beloved and disliked. Many many generic species of insects fall under this category as they don't have any particular traits that make them stand out, and usually find success in their job or social circles. Though some come with stereotypes, they don't largely effect their status in society.
A few standouts:

• Cicadas, Crickets, Katydids, & Grasshoppers - Often regarded for their musical talents, but also often considered loud and obnoxious.


• Giant Water Bugs/ Water Boatmen/ Backswimmers - Excellent fishers, but often isolated to do their reliance of the water.


• Treehoppers, Planthoppers, & Leafhoppers - Known for their variety of colors and body shapes, some good, and some a little odd.


• Aquatic Arthropods (Shrimp, Krill, Lobster, Crabs) - Similar issue with water bugs, though will form underwater communities of their own, isolated from others.


• Millipedes, Centipedes, & Isopods - Often get odd looks from their strange body shapes.

Other insects in this category:

• Most Beetles
• Stick & Leaf Insects
• True Bugs
• Silverfish
• Thrips
• Mealybugs
• Mayflies
• Earwigs
• Weevils

Low Class

Insects that are generally disliked or subject to discrimination due to unwelcome traits about them. Often get fewer opportunities;

• Wasp Workers - If they didn't work for a powerful queen, they'd be lower. They are seen as aggressive and dangerous, but generally people tend to avoid them as it's not worth starting a fight with them.


• Locusts - If a group of Grasshoppers turn into locusts, they are often banished from public spaces due to the damage and chaos they cause.


• Aphids - Come in large numbers and have a lot of children without offering much in the form of unique skills.


• Asian Lady Beetles - Often considered poor copycats of lady bugs and are often criticized for their large numbers and being less friendly than them.


• Box Elder Bugs - Also have an issue of showing up in large numbers uninvited and hording resources.


• Stink Bugs - Often mocked for the pungent smelling secretions they produce when they are startled or defend themselves.


• Dung Beetles - Despite providing a great service to the community, managing waste, many miinu also find it disgusting and don't like being around them.


• Flies & Gnats - Annoying pests who eat garbage and rotten food.


• Cockroaches - Stereotyped as unclean scavengers and unhelpful freeloaders.


• Fleas, Lice, Bed Bugs - Bitey...

Outcasts

Insects that a widely disliked due to their perceived danger to others. They are often outcasted from their communities and shown less sympathy. Many are forced into crime or unethical practices to make ends meet as opportunities are extremely limited for them.

• Solitary/Parasitic/Rogue Wasps - Considered dangerous and manipulative, especially as most are carnivorous and have cravings for live meat.


• Mosquitos, Midges, Ticks, Kissing Bugs & Tsetse Flies - Blood sucking insects often cause miinu to fear being bitten themselves, despite how unlikely that is. They are also accused of being riddled with disease and gold diggers.


• Spiders & Scorpions - Take the mantises cannibalism accusations and crank it up x10. It's not helped that a few have been forced into that life style due to being shunned from villages, or ferals not being adopted into loving homes.