The Arachnid Menace
In the case of humanity, evolution produced a organism that effectively began to interfere with or even halt it's own processes, as humans utilize technology to adapt to their environment far more quickly than the natural processes of evolution.
In the case of the Arachnids however, evolution created a race of insects that not only achieved intelligence, but achieved near-total evolutionary control. By having inherent control over their own genetic code and that of their many subspecies, the Arachnids are able to "terraform" their own bodies to suit any environment and any need... they have thus completely sidelined the necessity for technological development.
Beserker Bugs
There is no more dangerous a front-line bug than the "Beserker Bug"... possessing the speed and ferocity of a Warrior Bug, with more resiliency, armor, all-terrain capability, and a devastating acid spray that can melt through starship armor or fortifications alike.
The penultimate shock troop, Beserker bugs have most commonly been seen in bridge-head operations, such as the boarding of starships and as the initial waves of assault troops in the Arachnid's "Crash and Hold" asteroid bombardment tactics.
Genetically the Beserker Bug seems to be derived from Blister/Blaster Bugs and to have spliced into them a variety of Spider Bug and Guard Bug traits... leading to a devastating combination. Thankfully, it appears that gestating large numbers of Beserker Bugs is difficult, and as the Arachnid assaults have been absorbed and inevitable casualties mount, they are seen less and less, being replaced by the ever-ubiquitous Warrior Bug swarms. Regardless, the appearance of Beserker Bugs on the field represents a dire threat and indicates the theater's relative importance to the Arachnids.
The building of the Beserker Bug was relatively simple, one merely flips the torso upside down, and then constructs the model traditionally. After this is done, additional legs and arms can be added to taste. The important aspect of the model, is that we have the large, almost snake-like fangs and jaw on the top of the creature instead of the bottom.
The Nova Bug
The entire Arachnid resurgence and strategy is based around a single important new subspecies... the "Cherenkov" Bug or "Nova Bug". This bug, evolved from Brain Bugs, utilizes it's intelligence and psychic potential to subtly manipulate the quantum states of it's geographic area, and by doing so, it makes the use of planet-destroying Nova Bombs impossible. As a byproduct, the effect also interferes with Cherenkov drives, making FTL transit to the immediate orbit of a planet extremely difficult.
As a result of these abilities, the Arachnids can shield a planet from Nova Bombs and ensure that their enemies must approach a planet using sub-light drives with merely a dozen or so Nova Bugs present. The strategic importance of this subspecies cannot be understated and the Federation is desperate to acquire samples. It seems the Arachnids understand this as well, as in each instance that a Nova Bug has been in jeopardy of being captured, it has initiated a miniature quantum implosion and destroyed itself and typically the entire hive it was inhabiting.
I originally saw a similar conversion of a Brain Bug back in 2006 or so, and in 2010 or so I created my own using simple plastic toy bug legs and some spare Tanker Bug legs. Today in 2020, I've added additional feelers, additional Tanker Bug legs, and added two small Hopper Bug arms as tiny mouth parts. Ultimately, the model is neat, but it's really the use of color changing paint that helps this specimen stand out!
Brain Bugs
Brain Bugs have changed little in the intervening years between conflicts and they remain the remarkably immobile psychic commanders of the Bug armies and colonies. Still, it appears that Brain Bugs have become easier to maintain and reproduce, and reports from the field suggest that even smaller Arachnid forces are now fielding Brain Bugs... albeit one's with less psychic potency in these cases.
The Brain Bug model remains a crowd favorite, albeit a difficult to assemble one due to it's relatively poor casting and the nature of metal models. It's too bad there isn't a good reproduction available for 3d Printing... hint hint to those who might have such talents!
