Hexapoda
Hexapoda, meaning 'six feet' is the group that contains all insects and springtails. Varied and diverse in both worlds, from beetles to mantises to dragonflies, they are an integral part in the survival of life on Earth as they are pollinators and prey to hundreds of thousands of 'higher' creatures.
Apterygota (Shiny-bugs, Salamansects, Rugmuncher)
Paleoptera (Mayflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies)
Neoptera (*deep breath* Stoneflies, Ice-crawlers, Gladiators, Webspinners, Angel insects, Earwigs, Grasshoppers, Crickets,Wetas, Katydids, Stick Insects, Cockroaches, Mantids, Termites, Barklice, Thrips, lice, bugs, ants, bees, wasps, beetles, snakeflies, alderflies, twisted-winged parasites, scorpionflies, net-veined insects, fleas, flies, caddisflies, butterflies & moths *takes sip of tea*)
Order: Orthoptera, Suborder: Ensifera, Family: Grillidae
Genus: Diablogryllus
Several species of Crickets and Grasshoppers have taken self-defence a step farther in DW than they have in ours. Perhaps this is due to the predation; most Different World things that eat insects tend to be a lot more determined at it than Home-Earth insectivores.
Ill-Sting Cricket (Diablogryllus Aculeus)
One of the nastier species of Devil-Crickets is the Ill-Sting. Named for the small stinger positioned on their rear, and the potent venom it secrets, it is otherwise a rather nondescript animal. One explorer described it as being 'beige' (though it is important to note that they shine brightly around the head in UV lights, and that no other cricket is beige). Being stung by this insect, however, is not something that will be forgotten in a hurry. Whilst decidedly non-fatal, the Ill-Sting's venom has quite possibly the longest-lasting effects of any known to man. Effects can linger up to a year, and the effects are decidely unpleasant, rolling chronic vomiting, diarrhea, splitting migraines, fevers, and fits of unconsciousness into one. Many an explorer in the vast region in which they live, which includes worrying amounts of both Europe and Africa, has had to cut their exploration short due to encountering one of these little insects.
Firewater Cricket (Diablogryllus Incendia)
Another Devil Cricket infamous amongst Diff. biologists is the Firewater Cricket. Unlike the beige Ill-Sting, this little bugger is rather brightly coloured, described as being a 'vile orange'. Like their relative, they also carry a nasty surprise in their abdomen; they can spray acid. Not a particularly large amount, nor a particularly strong acid, but it is more than enough to discourage a predator when they get an eyeful of a substance resembling particularly strong malt vinegar. Predators are not necessarily the only animals subject to this treatment, as they readily spray anything that is large enough to be considered a threat and/or gets an eye within range. It is not uncommon to see even grazing Juggernauts suddenly raise their heads from the grass, snorting and shaking their head furiously, trying to rub out the irritatant in their eye.
Fishclay Cricket (Diablogryllus Piscator)
Decidely the largest of all DW's crickets, being of a similar size to the Giant Wetas of NewZealand of our timeline, the Fishclay Cricket is known for its unusual diet, and equally unusual method of obtaining food. The hind legs are particularly unsuited for jumping, instead being more suited to fishing. Long, and covered in spines, they dangle them into the water, where they look a tasty treat for small fish and tadpoles. One their leg is nipped, they dig into the grass with their strong forelimbs, grab the prey in their legs and pull it onto the bank. If bitten by an animal too large for them to handle, they spray a foul-tasting, disorientating liquid from their abdomen to discourage the predator. Suitable prey is torn apart by sharp mandibles and razorlike claws. They dig tunnels close to the bank for defence and shelter, and occasionally baste prey in mud to keep in times of low available food biomass.
Apterygota (Shiny-bugs, Salamansects, Rugmuncher)
Paleoptera (Mayflies, Dragonflies, Damselflies)
Neoptera (*deep breath* Stoneflies, Ice-crawlers, Gladiators, Webspinners, Angel insects, Earwigs, Grasshoppers, Crickets,Wetas, Katydids, Stick Insects, Cockroaches, Mantids, Termites, Barklice, Thrips, lice, bugs, ants, bees, wasps, beetles, snakeflies, alderflies, twisted-winged parasites, scorpionflies, net-veined insects, fleas, flies, caddisflies, butterflies & moths *takes sip of tea*)
Order: Orthoptera, Suborder: Ensifera, Family: Grillidae
Genus: Diablogryllus
Several species of Crickets and Grasshoppers have taken self-defence a step farther in DW than they have in ours. Perhaps this is due to the predation; most Different World things that eat insects tend to be a lot more determined at it than Home-Earth insectivores.
Ill-Sting Cricket (Diablogryllus Aculeus)
One of the nastier species of Devil-Crickets is the Ill-Sting. Named for the small stinger positioned on their rear, and the potent venom it secrets, it is otherwise a rather nondescript animal. One explorer described it as being 'beige' (though it is important to note that they shine brightly around the head in UV lights, and that no other cricket is beige). Being stung by this insect, however, is not something that will be forgotten in a hurry. Whilst decidedly non-fatal, the Ill-Sting's venom has quite possibly the longest-lasting effects of any known to man. Effects can linger up to a year, and the effects are decidely unpleasant, rolling chronic vomiting, diarrhea, splitting migraines, fevers, and fits of unconsciousness into one. Many an explorer in the vast region in which they live, which includes worrying amounts of both Europe and Africa, has had to cut their exploration short due to encountering one of these little insects.
Firewater Cricket (Diablogryllus Incendia)
Another Devil Cricket infamous amongst Diff. biologists is the Firewater Cricket. Unlike the beige Ill-Sting, this little bugger is rather brightly coloured, described as being a 'vile orange'. Like their relative, they also carry a nasty surprise in their abdomen; they can spray acid. Not a particularly large amount, nor a particularly strong acid, but it is more than enough to discourage a predator when they get an eyeful of a substance resembling particularly strong malt vinegar. Predators are not necessarily the only animals subject to this treatment, as they readily spray anything that is large enough to be considered a threat and/or gets an eye within range. It is not uncommon to see even grazing Juggernauts suddenly raise their heads from the grass, snorting and shaking their head furiously, trying to rub out the irritatant in their eye.
Fishclay Cricket (Diablogryllus Piscator)
Decidely the largest of all DW's crickets, being of a similar size to the Giant Wetas of NewZealand of our timeline, the Fishclay Cricket is known for its unusual diet, and equally unusual method of obtaining food. The hind legs are particularly unsuited for jumping, instead being more suited to fishing. Long, and covered in spines, they dangle them into the water, where they look a tasty treat for small fish and tadpoles. One their leg is nipped, they dig into the grass with their strong forelimbs, grab the prey in their legs and pull it onto the bank. If bitten by an animal too large for them to handle, they spray a foul-tasting, disorientating liquid from their abdomen to discourage the predator. Suitable prey is torn apart by sharp mandibles and razorlike claws. They dig tunnels close to the bank for defence and shelter, and occasionally baste prey in mud to keep in times of low available food biomass.