Plethora Moth

One of the many multi-functional insects on Lutetia, the Plethora Moth has practical use at all stages of life. From its egg form to its short-lived adult life in flight, this insect is either edible or useful for materials.

The Care and Feeding of Plethoras

Often, a replenishable source of Plethora Moths is maintained within a family home. A small glass vivarium can be found in most kitchens, where eggs and grubs are frequently collected. The floor of the unit is covered with a thick layer of sand, which is warmed with a heating pad underneath the glass. Sand is consumed and processed by the moth larva.
Eggs are either harvested or allowed to hatch into its grub-like larva form. Grubs are either collected for meals or allowed to progress to their caterpillerian stage. Usually plethorapillars are not maintained but rather encouraged to their next stage by providing them with a superfood concoction of liquid algae. Crystaloons are built by strands of fluffy material, but once they harden, they are nearly indestructible until the moth emerges. Moths are able to be toasted for snacks or pulverized for cooking material, but are more often kept only to lay the next round of eggs.

by Mike Lewinski

If a household has a hobbyist builder or tailor, or perhaps does more mending than acquiring new goods, the intermediate stages might be more prevalent in order to collect resin and weaving materials. Likewise, if an artisan works frozen crystaloons into their designs they might maintain their own source of these insects.

Department Management

• The Construction Department maintain factories of Plethorapillers due to its secretion of a resin which is used in all manner of consumer and Corporate fabrication projects.
• The Textiles Department has one massive factory line using these insects. It aggressively encourages fast turnaround of breeding and production of the pre-solidified crystaloon form.
• The Consumables Department has two branches: Food and Consumer Goods. Low cost supplemental food sources, Plethorapillar Resin and Pleth fabric are made available to the public and propagated via consumer-bid factories and production amounts bound to store orders.

by Holger Link

Geographic Distribution

• Lutetia

Plethora Moth Products

Egg

Sweet and tangy, egg bunches are often collected and simmered over low heat until candied, then eaten as a protein-rich confectionery.

Grub

Fat and juicy, the larva of a Plethora Moth is consumable raw and when cooked by various methods. A common practice by workers in higher levels of Department offices is to soak the grubs in a chemical; this creates a stimulant best consumed at the start of the workday.

Plethorapillar

The 3rd stage of a Plethora Moth, its caterpillar form, is not eaten, but rather provides Plethorapillar Resin, which is highly sought after for building, finishing furniture, and hardening elements of smaller projects.

Crystaloon

The stage between caterpillar and moth is both diamond-hard and beautiful. Crystaloons are often harvested and flash frozen to preserve their state, and are commonly sold individually or as part of an art piece or home decor. Prior to full crystallization, it is dull in color and still quite pliable. If harvested in this state, it can be unraveled and rewoven into a hardy cloth for various uses.

Moth

The adult Plethora Moth is a variety of colors. It can be eaten baked, or ground into a protein rich powder for addition into meals, and is necessary for maintaining the full lifecycle of the insect.

by Chuttersnap

The crystaloon of a Plethora Moth. Due to its reflective qualities, it is impossible to tell what the resulting colors will become for the adult moth which will emerge.