Blue Mountain Beetle

Blue mountain beetles are small insects found only on Blue Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Frost Mountain Range and on Greenerth. The insects get their colouration from the rocks they digest.

Anatomy

Blue mountain beetles have the general physique of any beetle, with a head, thorax, and abdomen. Like all beetles, they have a pair of wings and a hardened elytra, which isn't used for flying. Their entire body, including their wings and eyes, are a navy blue, as Blue Mountain is. Their heads are small, with three small horns between their eyes. Their thoraxes are slightly bigger than their heads, and their abdomens are about twice the size of their thoraxes. Their thoraxes are large and round, the elytra protecting the entire overside. Seven small stripes go down each elytra, distinguishing this species from the closely related stargen beetle.

Reproduction

Eggs

Blue mountain beetle eggs are incredibly tiny, and because they lay their eggs in their millions, they are encased in a sticky liquid to keep them together. After mating, females will tuck their eggs between their wings and their elytras, to keep them safe from predators and to make themselves appear larger and more intimidating.

Nesting Colonies

Female blue mountain beetles will gather in large colonies on the mountainside while the eggs are incubating on their backs. They feel much safer when in large colonies, and they can blend in to the mountain as well. They are protected by males while the females are flightless, until the eggs hatch and the females can use their wings once more.

Diet

These beetles are mineravores, or animals that consume rocks and minerals. Blue mountain beetles only consume the rock that makes up Blue Mountain, which contains chemicals that dye the beetles blue. Studies have shown that if the beetles were to consume an alternate rock without the chemical, the beetles would be a bright white colour.

Defense

Blue mountain beetles are poisonous when eaten. They release chemicals upon their death that linger in the air for days, and once the chemicals inevitably get into the predator's system they cause vomiting. The poison isn't lethal, but enough to then deter that animal from eating any more blue mountain beetles.

Lifespan

4 years

Average Height

2cm

Average Length

5cm

Geographic Distribution

• Blue Mountain
• Frost Mountain Range
• Greenerth

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