Serica

Silk and Stars

For most of our history, we thought of them as pests. Techniques were developed to drive them off our islands. If it weren't for the forests of Heliopolis, we might have wiped them out. I am very glad we did not suceed.

— Cappada Putrace

The serica, or, more accurately, the seric nests, are probably the most lucrative industry in the Blue. The silk produced is desired on every island, though few can afford it.

Life Cycle

Worm

Serica start out their life as small worms. In the wild, they have a nest filled with the remains of the plants the nest was constructed around, which they will eat. For farmed serica, these plants have to be provided to them, as the nests are harvested, and were not constructed around plants that would die. They move very slowly, but can eat a very large amount of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. They eat anything they come across for almost a full year, growing to be nearly four inches long. During this time, they are at their most vulnerable, and can be easily killed by both predators and pest-control methods.

Nesting

At roughly the same time each year, all serica turn their focus towards constructing nests. It is at this stage that the two different types of serica distinguish themselves. Mother serica will build massive constructions, capable of suffocating the plants they build their nests on. When groups of serica build nests attached to the same tree, they often kill it. The other type of serica, called stellar serica, also builds nests, but these are often much smaller, but are made of a material with a far greater amount of shine.

Reproducing

After the nests are all built, there is a roughly 15-day long period where the serica breed. Stellar serica sit in the center of their nests and start to glow. This signal is broadcasted by their extra-shimmery nest, and it draws the mother serica to their position. From a distance, this beacon appears like the feilds have filled with stars, which gives that type of serica its name. After mating, the mother serica return to their nests, and lay their fertilized eggs inside. After this short period, both types of serica die, and in roughly 30 days, the eggs will hatch into a new brood of serica worms.

Farming

The nests of the serica can be turned into silk, though a long and complicated process. Great care has to be taken to ensure that harvesting the nests of the serica does not upset the life cycle of the bug.

Nest Frames

Speically-made frames are placed in the feilds where the serica are kept, to make the nests easier to harvest.

Worm-feed

Because the nests are not constructed around living plants, which then die, other plants are ground up and fed to the worms, to keep them from starving.

House Putrace

Serica were nearly wiped out, and have been brought back from the brink of extinction. Currently, House Putrace owns every serica farm, and thus has great control over the silk produced. Even without their monoply, silk would still be incredibly valuable because of the time and effort it takes to produce. Some new technologies have the potential to help this, but it is unlikely Putrace will relinquish their hold so easily.

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