Amber Beetle

You must be careful when you have a flame with these beetles. They'll light up from the slightest spark that touches them. - Bug Catcher

Deep in the Jungles of the Isles of Refuge resides a particular insect that makes its dwelling around amber when trees produce it. While this is a death sentence for most, this beetle can avoid being trapped by the substance and use it to its advantage.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Insectoid exoskeleton with chitin shell to condense organs with large shell t0o protect the back. Limbs include six long legs that allow them to walk on most surfaces. The shell on the back can be open to allow wings to be released to allow for flight capabilities. The Head has a pair of eyes with two antennae above them. A pair of mandibles are also present to grab onto food.

Biological Traits

Oil: The beetle can produce oil from its body to avoid being trapped in amber and as a defense mechanism to escape predators.
Flammable: They can easily catch fire if they are in contact with any form of heat. Even sunlight can see them set on fire if in direct contact.
Strong Madables : Their mandibles are specially designed to tear into trees and produce resin from them to use as traps to catch insects.
Hormone Mimicry: To catch food, the beetles can replicate the scents of other insects with their oil to lure them into a trap and devour them.

Genetics and Reproduction

Ambers reproduce once a year during the autumn season through heterosexual means. After a few weeks a female will lay up to a hundred to three hundred and fifty eggs. Taking about two weeks the eggs will hatch and create larve.

Growth Rate & Stages

Larvae: Larvae look like worms that will only feed on the greenery they are laid on to grow.
Pupa: A protective cocoon will allow the larvae to grow by developing their bodies and exoskeleton.
Adult: Once they emerge from their cocoon, they will be full-grown adults and venture out into the wild to fend. for themsleves

Ecology and Habitats

Tropical: These beetles are found in tropical environments rich in lush greenery and forests to make their homes. They are often found near trees producing resin that can be turned into amber. It will then create amber nests to protect himself from predators and sunlight, which they will burn. They are nocturnal insects and will often only be out at night, or it is cloudy and will be very little light.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They are omnivores that will eat certain types of plants that they will be able to cut up with their mandibles. As for meat they will often hunt and eat any insects that are trapped in able as they are able to reach them.

Biological Cycle

When in the larvae stage the beetle will grow and shed it exoskeleton several times until it is ready to go into it its pupa stage creating a protective shell to protect them while they grow. After several months they will become full grown adults that will go out on thier own.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Amber Beetles often fend for themselves even when they are larvae and will do so as adults. They live on the same tree in the dozens, but they will fight over food and living space. When mating season comes, however, the males will take up to several females at a time to reproduce and keep them in their den until they are done fertilizing the eggs.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Oil: The beetle's oil is flammable, making it highly valued as a heat source in the regions they are found in them.
Amber: Due to their ability to produce amber, many will harvest the amber they make to earn some money.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

These insects are mainly found scattered around almost all of the Isles of Refuge from stowing away on ships.

Average Intelligence

The beetles are not competent as they only follow basic instincts, but when near heat, they will try to flee to avoid being set alight. However, it is possible to turn tree resin into amber by molding itself.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Touch: Great
Smell: Excellent
Sight: Poor
Hearing: Great

Scientific Name

Natural

Lifespan

3 years

Average Height

4 cm

Average Weight

9 grams

Average Length

5 cm - 6 cm

Average Physique

With its chitin body and compact muscles, the beetle can move faster to avoid attacks and can move langer without feeling exhaustion.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

red

Geographic Distribution

• Isles of Refuge

Trappers

The primary way these beetles can catch their food is to create resin from trees they put holes in them. Once the insect becomes trapped inside the resin, the beetle can eat the trapped insect to avoid being trapped within it. Allowing it to have a steady amount of food to come to it as it is not a proficient hunter.

Self Made Homes

Another the beetles use the resin from the trees they stay on. They can collect the resin and mold it to become amber to make homes for themselves in holes made in a tree. Keeping them safe from predators and the elements while staying near a food source. These amber dens can last up to several generations and will be used by several dozen beetles at a time.

Amber Makers

The main reason the Amber Beetle gets its name is that it can create faster than naturally produced. This is due to the same oil that keeps it from becoming trapped in resin. It allows it to harden much quicker and control how it is shaped to create its den within a tree. While some people try to capture them to produce amber, the difficulty of keeping them alive is too much of a hassle due to there and just harvesting the amber after it is made.

Fire Starters

One of the many dangers created when Amber Beetles are around is that they catch fire in the slightest heat. Making them primarily nocturnal that move around at night to avoid being burned up. But they will be set on fire and burn when fire or even sunlight touches them. Some people have been known to use them to start fires because of this, but if too many manage to burn up and are close to dry plants, they can potentially create a forest fire. Fires caused by the beetles are often rare but tend to happen now and then, but are more likely to happen when people try to harvest them.