Creepy Crawlies Of Bugaria
Isolated from the two main continents of Loki, the land of Bugaria has remained free of vertebrates since terrestrial life was established on the planet. As such the island escaped the ravages of the Time of Hunger and its invertebrate fauna has had the chance to thrive in isolation, producing a microbeast diversity unlike any other.
Flitterbugs are a family of beetles who specialise in eating grass pollen. Minute in size, these tiny beetles move from flower to flower, grazing on equally small pollen grains. Although grass is pollinated by the wind, that the beetles are accidently transferring pollen grains stuck to their bodies has not gone unnoticed by the plants. Several grass species are now producing larger flowers to better attract the beetles, who are much more adept at delivering pollen to a matching flower than the wind.
Colossal Earthworms are the abyssal kings of Bugaria. With the largest individuals reaching up to two metres in length, these enormous annelids plough through the soil, aerating it and cycling much welcome nutrients through their burrowing.
Giant Nematodes are the top predators of the soil ecosystem. Commonly reaching more than 10cm in size- with some species even approaching a foot in length- giant nematodes will eat anything they come across, from micro-organisms to small beetles. Prey is stabbed with a stylet, a needle-like hard structure which pierces the unfortunate creatures’ body and allows the nematode to suck out the internal fluids. A group of giant nematodes can even overwhelm and drain a colossal earthworm if they swarm at once.
Shining Biters are a family of predatory beetles whose presence helps to keep the ecosystem in balance. Armed with powerful jaws, shining biters crunch through the hard carapaces of their prey to reach the flesh inside. Although largely known for their attractive shiny carapaces, some species of shining biters that specialise in ambush tactics are evolving more cryptic colouration to better hide in the shade of grass stems.
Fungal Wanderers are a wingless species of beetle that specialise in eating fungi, ranging from nibbling larger mushrooms to grazing on microfungi. Their diet results in them being coated in fungal spores, which often germinate on top of the carapace. This provides the beetle with not only camouflage, but also a portable lunch. Groups of fungal wanderers will often graze each others’ backs, keeping the fungi down to manageable levels that do not hinder movement.
Dippers are beetles of the shoreline. Generally feeding on organic particles trapped amongst sand grains, these invertebrates are capable of submerging in salt water. Originally a form of survival against being drowned by a rogue wave during foraging, many species are now capable of diving into rock pools or calm waters to graze on underwater organic materials for short periods of time, though the power of the open ocean is too great for them survive in.