Dragonmoth Breeding

A Dragonmoth or Asteria Symbiont. The Hecath Pilot
is visible only as a few strands on the head.

As their symbiotic relationship with the insectoid Dragonmoths deepens, some populations of semi-intelligent, fungal Hecath have developed more and more sophisticated methods of breeding the insects over the centuries for various purposes.

As with all other Hecath activities, these breeding projects are likely directed by their hyperintelligent, demigodlike Queens.

Similar to human-bred species, symbiotic subspecies of Dragonmoths have diverged and specialized far more rapidly and drastically than their wild cousins.

Purpose

Also known as saprolings, the fungal Hecath take on a wide variety of body types for various purposes, similar to ants or termites. One of these body types are the tiny, filamentous Pilots, who attach themselves to the brains of the host Dragonmoth, creating a more intelligent, gestalt consciousness. These Symbiotes generally answer directly to their Queens, though rogue Symbiotes are known.

As Dragonmoths are primarily a source of mobility for the Hecath, the breeding can be considered most analogous to the breeding of horses or thunderbirds among Humanoid species: there are heavily-mandibled and acid-spitting subspecies clearly designed for combat & self defense, while others seem built to be beasts of burden.

Vierix Clymenikari.

Culture

Since the historical inroads made between the Lichlord and xenobiologist Vierix Clymenikari and the Hecath Queen Raggedy Azra, very little information has been acquired on the highly reclusive dual-species, except from what can be gleaned from afar, and even then only from populations with particularly tolerant Queens.

Much like the Queens themselves, the practice varies wildly from population to population (indeed, some populations, like the oceanic Ghost Ships of Xois, don't appear to engage in Dragonmoth symbiosis at all). Some aggressive Queens are known only to breed "combat" Dragonmoths; others have bred them for a variety of generalist roles, completely replacing duties normally given to the non-symbiotic Hecath komainu or drones.

Until more contact has been made with a gregarious population, similar to what was achieved by Clymenikari, the cultural depth of this practice will continue to remain elusive.