The red velvet ant, also called the cow killer.
Scientific name dasymutilla occidentalis
Family: mutillidae
Order: hymenoptera
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Name and look:
Don’t be fooled by its name. This is not an ant at all. It’s a type of wasp, but the females are wingless resembling ants. You can easily recognize one from their dense fuzzy coat of red and black hairs. It’s not just for show, it's an example of aposematism, in other words, a color warning to predators that they are not a tasty snack. While also helping them retain moisture
Habitat sweet habitat:
These solitary insects are sun lovers, commonly found in dry, open fields, meadows, pastures, and edges of forests across the southern and eastern United States. They are most active during the hottest times of the day.
Behavior:
The red velvet ant is a ground dweller with a fascinating, somewhat gruesome life cycle. The female, unable to fly like males, spends her days tirelessly patrolling the soil for underground nests of other insects, particularly of bees and ground nesting wasps. Once she finds a host nest she will get inside and lay an egg next to other eggs or pupas. When her larvae hatches it will consume everything around it. The males look quite different. Males have dark translucent wings but lack the female’s stinger. They often fly close to the ground in search of mates.
The sting:
This is where it’s other name “Cow Killer” comes from...Legend has it their sting is enough to make a cow scream or even die. The red velvet ant possesses an extremely painful sting, ranking at a three on the Shmidt sting pain index. It doesn’t sound like much, but the highest is a four. The pain is described as sharp, explosive, and unforgettably intense. Fortunately, they are not aggressive and will only sting if provoked, stepped on, or picked up. Their stinger is retractable like most wasps, but it is half the length of the insect's entire body.
Other fun facts:
Their exoskeleton is incredibly strong, helping them withstand the stings of the bees and wasps in the nests they invade. If threatened, a velvet ant can produce a high-pitched squeak to warn off attackers through a process called stridulation where they rub two segments of their abdomen together
In our book hive born:
Leeub the main villain at the beginning of the first book is a Red Velvet Ant only not as realistic, as he has both wings and a stinger… oh and did I mention godly abilities, like psychic abilities and fire breathing, which I wrote from inspiration of how the sting is described. Luckily, I wasn’t writing from experience. In the book as well, his exoskeleton is bullet proof, based on their ability to withstand the attacks of wasps. Even though he didn’t last too long, he still was a major threat, or should I say “is” a major threat? Side note: I took his name from a variation of the devil, Beelzebub, who is called the lord of flies (not in the sense that he controls flies the name implies he’s a pile of droppings)
Bullet ant
Also called veinticuartro hormiga (24 hour ant) and conga ant
Scientific name: paraponera clavata
Family: formicidae
Order: hymenoptera
Appearance:
Forget the tiny ants at a picnic. The bullet ant is a formidable insect, reaching over an inch in length. They are easily recognized by their intimidating size (in comparison to other ants) , their huge mandibles and their large stinger easily visible coming from the abdomen.
Habitat sweet habitat
These ants are inhabitants of the lowland rainforests of Central and South America, from Nicaragua to Paraguay. They build their colonies in a unique way, at the base of trees, in root systems, and sometimes rotten logs.
Behavior
Bullet ants are primarily foragers. They navigate the forest canopy and floor in long, distinct trails, searching for nectar, small insects, and tree sap. Colonies of bullet ants are relatively small in comparison with other ants typically containing a few hundred to a thousand ants. But like most ants, they are fiercely territorial and will defend their nests. They communicate through stridulation (rubbing body parts together to make a high pitched noise) to warn others about potential danger and like all ants they also communicate with pheromones.
The sting
The bullet ants sting is often ranked as the most painful of all stings in the world, some say it’s like getting shot with a bullet which is how they got their name. They score a perfect four on the Schmidt sting pain index which is the highest on the index. The pain is also described as pure intense pain like walking over burning coals with a three inch nail in your foot. The pain is waves of burning, throbbing, and consuming agony. Their other name, “24 hour ant”, comes from the intense pain with full body sweating and nausea, that can last for 24 hours. Could you imagine falling face first into a colony with hundreds of these? OUCH!. The potent neurotoxin, called poneratoxin, is a defense and the cause of their painful sting. While it’s excruciating, it is rarely ever dangerous to humans unless anaphylactic shock occurs.
Other fun facts
The Satere–Mawe people of Brazil used the bullet ant as an initiation ritual. Young men would cover their hands with them and bear dozens of stings to show their bravery. The Paraponera Clavata is the only species in its genus and is considered a living fossil, with a lineage that can be traced back to millions of years ago.
In our book Hive Born:
Alex’s trusty ant companion Ounus, is a bullet ant, even though i took his name from the Greek demigod Tithonus, who is more associated with crickets and cicadas in mythology. In the book he is wise, peaceful, and ancient, blessed with immortality until he completes his purpose.
Tameesha
Termite
Scientific name: Macrotermes Natalensis
Family: Termitidae
Order: Blattodea (yes termites are related to cockroaches)
Appearance:
This is about the African Termite species Macrotermes Natalensis, but they look like all termites. They live in highly structured societies with different castes, each with a specialized body and jobs. Workers are soft bodied, pale and blind, they do all the labor, building, foraging, and tending to the fungus. Soldiers have large, dark, armored heads with powerful mandibles to defend the colony, some have a fontanelle, which is a pore on its head that can secrete a sticky, defensive chemical. The king and queen are the heart of the colony. The queen, after finding her mate, becomes an immense, immobile egg laying machine through a process called physogastry, capable of producing thousands of eggs per day. The queen even has multiple genetic clones at her side waiting to take her place if she dies, freaky but true.
Home is where the hive is:
This species is famous for its colossal, intricate mounds. The mounds can tower up to ten feet high and extend even deeper underground. These structures are primarily found in savannas and grasslands of sub Saharan Africa. The mound is not just a pile of dirt, it is an air conditioning system, internal tunnels and vents regulate temperature, humidity, and gas exchange to create the perfect environment for both the termites and their important partner, the fungus.
Behavior:
The reason why I'm focusing on these termites is because they are some of the most interesting, this species are advanced builders and farmers. Workers travel to gather dead grass, leaves, and wood. They chew up this plant matter and mix it with their saliva and feces to create a compost that they use to care for the fungus Termitomyces, in special, sponge-like chambers within the mound. The termites cannot digest the raw plant matter themselves. Instead, they eat the fungus, which has broken down the plant matter into a nutritious, easily digestible food source. This symbiotic relationship is essential for their survival.
Other fun facts:
The king and queen live in a highly protected central chamber, the queen is constantly tended to by workers who feed her and care for her eggs. Once a year, mature colonies produce winged reproductive termites called Alates, they swarm out of the mound and gather in huge swarms of hundreds and begin to mate. This is called the nuptial flight, the termites then pair for life losing their wings becoming kings and queens, and build their own colonies.
In our book Hive Born:
Termite biology is rich with so many intriguing abilities and facts that inspired multiple things in the book, notably, the characters Tameesha and Elira Vex. Tameesha, when reaching through the hive mind, mainly communicated with termites that Hiveborn saved from her control. Also, she has the ability to summon giant mounds from the ground that she uses as a shield and sometimes a weapon. I haven’t showcased much of her power, at least not yet… When it comes to Elira, she was inspired by the queens of many bugs. I'll make a page for queens in general, later on. But, from termite specifically, the fact that she dies, but was restored from a clone was inspired by termite queen clones. Also, the way I describe her egg-filled abdomen and disgusting appearance, is also based on termite queens, which look like sausages pulsating and are full of eggs.
Praying Mantis
Order Mantodea:
There are over 2,400 species and I couldn’t decide on one, so here's a little of them all
Appearance:
Although they vary drastically from species to species they are easily recognizable with their prayer-like posture, their triangular heads can rotate 180 degrees allowing them to scan their surroundings without moving their bodies. Their front limbs are serrated claw-like arms they use to grab and hold prey, they are able to lunge out and grab prey in the time it takes the average man to blink. Mantises are also masters of camouflage with colors, patterns and even body shape, varying from species to species, each blending perfectly into their surroundings.
Habitat sweet habitat:
These ambush predators are found world wide. You can find them in gardens, meadows, grasslands, forests, and jungles. Anywhere that prey is abundant.
Behavior:
The mantis is a solitary and patient hunter. It remains completely motionless, using its incredible camouflage to become nearly invisible. When a prey item comes into range, it strikes with its spiked forelegs in a fraction of a second. They are carnivorous and will eat almost any insect they can catch. Larger species are known to even take down small lizards, snakes, frogs, and humming birds.
Mating:
Mantises are also known for their strange mating behavior of committing cannibalism when done mating; this provides extra nutrients for the female's body to care for the babies. It was once believed that this happened every time, but it doesn’t, though there's still a chance. Also, it’s important to note some mantis species do this more than others.
Other fun facts:
Mantises have a special hearing organ on their chest that tunes into frequencies humans can’t hear, like the echolocation of bats, which would love to snack on them. A mantis egg case is called an ootheca, it's a foamy hardened mass that protects hundreds of eggs through the winter. The babies that emerge are called nymphs and look like mini adults.
In our book Hive Born
The mantis has been one of my favorite bugs since I was a kid, so a lot of things were based on the mantis. Like Alex, when he goes swarm mode grows mantis claws. Though in the book they act more like blades that slice through things, rather than claws that grapple onto people. The wrist blades on almost all of Alex's suits are also based on mantis claws. The Monarch, even though she is based on the butterfly, also has strong mantis elements. Hemo swarm warriors look like basic hemo swarm infected, but with mantis claws. Hemo swarm royal guards are based on the biology of ants. but with the speed and appearance of mantises. Also, I briefly bring up mantis hemo swarm infected, which are what you think they would be… humanoid… mantis… things.
Royal Guard
Mansquito
Mosquito
Family Culicidae (there are about 3,500 species)
Order Diptera (same as flies)
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Appearance:
Mosquitos are very elegantly built insects. They have thin bodies with long, delicate legs. Their mouth part is called a proboscis. It is long and needle-like, perfect for the females to siphon blood and for piercing the skin. Their body and wings are covered in tiny scales, which create patterns and even iridescent. The males have especially fuzzy antennas to help locate the humming of females.
Home sweet habitat:
Mosquitoes need water to complete their life cycle. Different species prefer different types of water. Temporary puddles, stagnant ponds, marshes, or even a bucket you forgot you had in the back yard. The female lays her eggs on or near the water, and the larvae called wrigglers, will live in the water until adulthood.
Behavior:
The females are the ones that bite. They require blood to get enough protein and iron necessary to develop their eggs. Not all species bite humans… just most. The males are completely harmless and live on a diet of flower nectar and plant juices. Mosquitos are most active at dawn and dusk, but you’ll still find them in shady places during the day and flying towards the nearest light source at night.
The bite:
A mosquito after finding a target lands in a safe place and uses her proboscis to pierce the skin and inject a drop of saliva, which contains anticoagulants to prevent the blood from clotting. Also, it's your body’s reaction to this saliva that causes the itchy red welt.
More fun facts:
Mosquitos are the deadliest animal on the planet due to the diseases they can transmit like malaria, dengue, and yellow fever. They are one of few insects that can fly backwards. It's not that special, but it's still interesting. On a less impressive topic, it's believed they have buzzed around since the dinosaur times.
In our book Hive Born:
Mosquitoes are very fascinating creatures that inspired multiple things in our book, even though mosquitoes are on the very short list of animals I don’t like. Which include mosquitoes, ticks and worst of all Chihuahuas…huh. Anyway, back to mosquitoes. In the book, Doctor Siphon is the first one to get infected by a strain containing mosquito DNA, turning him into Mansquito, a rather important anti-hero figure, who helps out from time to time. Then you have Project Needle Point, a swarm of big green mosquitoes, that when they bite transfer hemo swarm. And technically Mansquito is a male…but do we really want to go there?
The Stag Beetle
Stag Beetle
Family: Lucanidae (There are over 1,200 species)
Order: Coleptera (Beetles)
Appearance:
Stag beetles are one of my favorite insects, but it's a long list. They vary greatly in appearance from species to species, but a few aspects stay the same in all of them. They are famous for their oversized mandibles, which resemble the antlers of a stag, giving them their name. The males possess larger intimidating mandibles to fight off other males and impress mates. Females on the other hand, have smaller, more practical mandibles. Believe it or not, the female's bites are more painful and can draw blood, while males use theirs to grab and throw things…so you’ll be alright.
Home sweet habitat:
Most stag beetles live in woodland areas, but there are exceptions. They rely on dead and decaying wood for their food, especially in their larvae stage, And will often be found in areas where it is abundant.
Behavior and life cycle:
Despite their appearance and size they are extremely docile. Stag beetles spend the majority of their life as larvae. The larvae stage can last from a few months to seven years depending on the species. During this time they live underground or in said rotting wood, chewing it up and helping return its nutrients to the soil. They are vital decomposers and can greatly benefit gardens. The adult beetles live only for a few weeks in the summer. Their main goal is to find a mate. And well… you know. Males on occasion will battle for territory or mates. Their battles involve using their mandibles to pry their opponent off a log or branch and toss them to the ground.
Diet:
As mentioned before they feed on rotting wood, but adults also have a sweet tooth and love to feed on tree sap, ripe and rotting fruit, and sweet nectar from plants.
Fun facts:
In many cultures they are symbols of strength and honor, and the Japanese are some of the most fond of them. They keep them as pets, battle and trade beetles. They were basically a more alive version of Pokemon cards.
In Hive Born:
In our book, stag beetles inspire multiple things, most notably Viktor Krawl A.K.A. The Stag Beetle. I specifically based Viktor on the Golden Stag beetle. Other than that, only small details were inspired by the stag beetle, such as Alex's sudden desire for rotting wood during Sebastian's speech.
Firefly
Family: Lampyridae
Order: Coleptera ( they are beetles not flies)
Other names: lightning bug
Appearance:
Despite their name, fireflies are not flies, but rather a type of soft winged beetle. They have a flat body, usually black or brown, while the head is colorful and can vary from species to species.
Habitat sweet habitat:
Fireflies thrive in warm, humid environments near water. They need these specific conditions because their larvae, often called glow worms, live mainly in leaf litter and need to be moist.
Behavior:
The fireflies light is called bioluminescence, it is a cold light produced by a chemical reaction in their bodies, between a substance called Luciferin and an enzyme called Luciferase… (don’t worry the Lucifer in their names refers to their ability to create light and probably has no connection to the devil…probably?) This light is their language, used for many purposes. 1 romance. Each firefly species has its own unique flashing pattern. It acts as a code, males fly and flash their specific pattern, while receptive females perch on the ground or plants and flash back with the correct response. 2. it serves as an aposematic signal, warning predators like birds or frogs THEY TASTE TERRIBLE. They contain defensive chemicals that make them not a desirable snack.
Fun facts:
The glow worm larvae also produce light, they use it to warn predators even though it's an easy meal. DO NOT EAT THEM. Once again even their eggs glow, so they are not eaten. I can not emphasize this enough DO NOT EAT ANYTHING THAT GLOWS!!!. Ahem, where was I going with this?
In Hive Born
Fireflies have inspired multiple things but none more notable than Ayla, Athan's daughter, the entire reason why he became the scum bag he is. His daughter loved fireflies so much, Athan even called her ‘my little firefly’, and in an attempt to bring her back Athan created several fireflies that share her personality. Ayla died at a young age of cancer and even her death itself was partially inspired by fireflies, as the same chemicals that make them glow is used in medical science to track cancer cells.
Fire Ant
Genus solenopsis: (the most notorious of these is the imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta)
Family: Formicidae
Order: Hymenoptera
Appearance:
Fire ants are relatively small, measuring no larger than 6 millimeters. They range in color from brown to reddish brown, which is the most famous of them. Other than that they look like all ants, pinched waist, elbowed antenna, you get the picture.
Habitat sweet habitat:
Fire ants are master architects of the soil. They build large, domed nests called mounds, which can be up to 16 inches high; they contain large underground tunnel systems. These mounds lack a central opening, instead the ants enter and exit through these tunnels. They thrive in open sunny areas like lawns, pastures, parks and other places. Originally from South America the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis Invicta) has become a highly successful and destructive invasive species in the United States, Australia, China, and other parts of the world.
Behavior:
Fire ants are omnivorous, aggressive, and highly organized. Colonies can be massive, containing hundreds of thousands of workers. Also, in the case of polygyne colonies they can even contain multiple queens. They send out long, wide foraging trails to scavenge for food. They eat almost anything including other insects, seeds, sweets, and even small animals. They are extremely defensive of their home, the slightest disturbance will trigger a massive coordinated attack.
Sting:
This is where they get their name. A fire ant sting is a two step process, the worker ant uses its mandible to grip the skin, firmly anchoring itself, it then curls its abdomen and injects venom with its stinger. The venom is an alkaloid toxin that causes an immediate, intense burning sensation which feels like… well fire. The sting typically results in a raised itchy, white pustule that can last for several days.
Funfacts:
In response to floods, fire ants link together using the air pockets between them to form a living raft that can float for weeks until the flooding stops.
In Hive Born:
Though fire ants serve a less prominent role in Hive Born than other bugs, they still helped inspire certain biological traits of the hemo swarm virus. And, at one point of the book Alex summons millions of fire ants, that carry him where he needs to go based on their ability to make rafts out of themselves.