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Beetles were insects found in many places and variations on Toril, often in giant sizes.

Biology[]

Most species of beetle lacked good eyesight or hearing. Because of this, they primarily relied upon their tactile and taste senses. The latter was done by means of their antennae.[3]

Species[]

Ecology[]

Diet[]

In general, these creatures were liable to eat almost any form of organic matter tasted by their antennae, even other species of beetle. Each species tended to have dietary preferences.[3] Those that lived in the Underdark were often fungivores.[18]

Giant beetles ground and crushed whatever they ate with their mandibles, making it difficult to revive consumed organisms.[3]

Habitats[]

Shrub beetles were found in Cormanthor.[13] Bombardier, boring, fore, and stag beetles were typically found in midwood.[19] A wide variety of giant beetles could be found in the Underdark.[18]

Aggressive carnivorous giant beetles could be found within upper layers of Undermountain, notably, in the Garden of the Drow and nearby Temple of Bane.[20]

Outside of the Prime Material plane, giant beetles could be found living in the trunk of Yggdrasil the World Ash.[21]

Relationships[]

Some races within the Underdark kept giant beetles as livestock.[18] They were one of the many Underdark creatures that the duergar of Fraaszummdin raised and trained, which they used to defend their city.[22]

The military of Thay sometimes outfitted its soldiers with giant beetles as mounts.[23]

Trivia[]

The noh play Lady Sei featured an anthropomorphized beetle by the name of Minbu.[24]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Novels
Referenced only
The Ring of Winter
Video Games
Descent to UndermountainBaldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II

External Links[]

References[]

  1. Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  2. Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
  4. Monstrous Compendium pages included in Ed Greenwood (March 1993). The Ruins of Myth Drannor. Edited by Newton H. Ewell. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 1-5607-6569-0.
  5. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 27. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  6. Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
  7. Clayton Emery (January 1999). Star of Cursrah. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 13. ISBN 0-7869-1322-3.
  8. Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  10. Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 285. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  11. Wolfgang Baur (March 1996). “The Dragon's Bestiary: Monsters of the Underdark”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #227 (TSR, Inc.), p. 23.
  12. Monstrous Compendium included in Tim Beach, Tom Prusa and Steve Kurtz (1993). City of Delights. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-56076-589-5.
  13. 13.0 13.1 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 22. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  14. Jon Pickens ed. (November 1996). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 0786904496.
  15. BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
  16. Obsidian Entertainment (October 2006). Designed by Ferret Baudoin, J.E. Sawyer. Neverwinter Nights 2. Atari.
  17. Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), p. 70. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 110. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
  19. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  20. Interplay (December 1997). Designed by Chris Avellone, Robert Hanz. Descent to Undermountain. Interplay.
  21. Wolfgang Baur and Lester Smith (1994-07-01). “The Travelogue”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Chaos (TSR, Inc), p. 42. ISBN 1560768746.
  22. Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
  23. Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 978-0786901395.
  24. Rick Swan (1990). Test of the Samurai. (TSR, Inc), p. 65. ISBN 0-88038-775-0.
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