Guano Beetle

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Bat Cave Bugs

Guano Beetles are found in the Undertrees Caves of the Hoia Forest in Transylvania. They thrive in the guano of wild messenger bats. The bigger the pile of guano on a cave floor, the bigger the beetles that live in it. Despite their various sizes, they all feed on the same thing. Fungus. Bat dropping are rich in nutrients for the fungi which in their turn enrich the beetles and gives them their blue sheen. As the guano deepened over time, the beetles burrow into the hardened parts building intricate cave systems that regulate temperature much like ant hils and termite mounds do.
In the largest cave, the beetle average about a foot long and are known to wander out into the forest from time to time during shroom blooms. Easily spotted at night by the blue sheen of an oil "sweated" onto their caracpaces, this does not make them ane asy meal for would-be predators. They tend to be very acidic and will burn the mouths of any creature that eats one.

by Georg_Wietschorke

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Uses

Goblins, capable of eating most anything, love the "spicy" meat of guano beetles. Hunting the beetles can be risky and not just because of the bats. The sheen of a guano beetle is acidic and burns at the touch as does their bite.
Guano beetle carapaces from the foot long beetles are carefully cleaned and used to make armor that is light and stronger than leather. It is also impervious to acid. Goblins call it soft armor and is the favorite armor of those who ride the bats.
Almost as beloved as the meat are the oil glands. When harvested correctly, the glands will preserve the oil within until ready to be used. Once exposed to air, even by pouring it into a vial, it will glow for upto 6 days. This oil is acidic and once the gland is opened, the oil is must be poured into a glass container to safely provide light. Any other will be dissolved.

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by Romario99

When a bat eats something magical, they are omnivores, the magic often passes though them and out in their guano. It is then absorbed by the guano fungus which is then eaten by the beetles.
Any beetle that eats magic changes. It grows more robust and sprouts a horn that is very strong and hollow. They can shoot acid through this horn to impressive distances.
More startling is these affected beetle grow. Their growing encourages them to leave the caves and feed in the forest. They easily adapt to eating plants as they continue to grow to a terrifying length of four feet.
Goblins call these Auroch Beetles and will hunt any they find in defence of the trees. The meat is just as tasty to the goblins and the carapaces are converted into bat-skids.