Tunbe Beetle (tOOn-BEE BEE-till)

Basic Information

Anatomy

These beetles are about the size of a volkswagon. In hive structures, tunbe can develop specialized morphologies, but solo they typically  have pincers which help move rocks from around their face and can be used for defense. They have shovel-like arms used for digging as their front pair of limbs. Their back four limbs are spiny. The spines help them brace as they dig. They tend to be dusty red and yellow from digging in the dirt, but their actual exoskeleton is an iridescent green-black. They also host a photosynthetic slime on their backs. At dusk and dawn, the Tunbe emerge to the surface to bask, which is when this slime will photosynthesize. This behavior also creates breach tunnels from the underground network to the surface. As the slime grows, the tunbe can scrap it off for food if food is scarce. Otherwise the slime helps keep the tunbe hydrated.

Genetics and Reproduction

Tunbe can have complex social forms and their sociality can range from solo individuals or hives. Solo individuals rarely reproduce, but they can form a nest area and leave eggs. Young hatchlings in these types of nests tend to have a lower survival rate due to predation and lack of resources. Most reproduction happens in the hives. Within a hive there will be brooding individuals that produce the eggs and nursing individuals that care for the eggs and hatchlings. Once a hatchling has matured to an adult form, they will take on a role as either a brooder, nurse, worker, or guard. Each social role can have derivative roles, each of which have their own unique morphologies. Tunbe hives have been difficult to study because these otherwise peaceful animals will become territorial and aggressive around intruders of nests. Thus there's been much debate on whether the different morphologies represent different species and speculation as to what determines which role a hatchling will develop into or what may cause a tunbe to leave the hive.

Growth Rate & Stages

Going from the initial egg laying and the hatching takes about a month. Once hatched, the hatchling will go through 3 metamorphosis stages (larval, pupae, instar), each taking a couple months. At about 1 year, they will undergo a final metamorphosis into a juvenile form of their adult morphology. It will take another 2 years for the juvenile to grow to its full mature size.

Ecology and Habitats

Tunbe are tunneling beetles. They live mostly underground, though they do breach to the surface to bask at dawn and dusk. How the tunbe know when dusk and dawn occur is still not fully understood, but is used by navigators to tell time while underground. They tunnel through soft rocks and soil. They will not tunnel through hard rock, preferring to take the path of least resistance. They are more common along water reservoirs, but can extend further out. They are mostly peaceful animals, preferring to run away from other animals than to confront. However, they can display territorial aggression with other Tunbe, predators, other aggressors, or when startled. Their go to aggressive move is to cause a cave-in and bury the adversary. Otherwise they'll use the front limbs to bludgeon.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They have a scavenger diet. They will eat plant roots or carrion, but they prefer to eat excrement of other animals, particularly in their hatchling stages. Solo individuals will scavenge as they tunnel whereas hives will send out workers to find food sources and bring it back to the nest. Guard individuals will then protect the food stores or go out to protect workers from workers and guards of another hive. Tunbe usually won't fight over food unless it is swarmed by tunbe. If a food source is swarmed, aggressive behavior will escalate to try and get any scraps for itself. Kind of like how grasshoppers will turn into locusts if resources are scarce.

Biological Cycle

Since tunbe live underground, they are not greatly affected by the change of the seasons. If food or water is particularly scarce, they can go into a type of hibernation to try and wait out the famine/drought.

Additional Information

Social Structure

They can have complicated hive structures, the intricacies of which are the cause of much scholarly debate and interest.

Domestication

Individuals have attempted to domesticate the tunbe, but tunbe that have left the hive structure of little loyalty to any human who saves them. The few that have been taken from a hive have been partially domesticated, but they often escape their domestic setting to rejoin with a hive. There are some who continue to have hope that they could domesticate a tunbe like a steed, but the majority of people consider them a natural ally and are content to leave them be as wild creatures.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Tunbe are mostly left alone while alive. The tunnels they create are used for getting around underground in the borderlands and by other creatures seeking shelter from the surface. When they die, their exoskeleton can be harvested to make tools and armor given it's tough but flexible nature. However, most of the hide's previous uses have been replaced with metal work. There are some curators who prize tunbe exoskeleton as well as some people who prefer the old ways of tool making.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

They live mostly in the Borderlands, but can extend to the surround deserts.

Average Intelligence

They are smart enough to avoid most traps and from falling in water or cave-ins. However, they are not smart enough to solve complicated problems. They can recognize different people, animals, or locations. I would place them roughly in the same category as song birds for intelligence.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

They do have eyes, but their eye sight is poor. They have very sensitive hairs along their limbs which detect vibrations. This is their main way of finding their way around. They also have smell-based antennae which they can use to discern different individuals. They can hear,  but this is not as strong as their other senses.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

They are host to a photosynthetic slime which helps maintain the humidity around them. They can occasionally eat the slime if times are tough. The slime gets access to all the nutrients the tunbe roll around in, spread throughout the tunnel system, and brought up to the surface at the ideal times for photosynthesis. It can hold onto water that the tunbe come across for longer periods of time.

Scientific Name

Cryptoareni hyphaen

Lifespan

10 years

Conservation Status

The Tunbe beetles are very common in the borderlands and surrounding deserts. However, they are considered vitally important and every effort is made to not disturb them in the wild.

Average Height

~2.5 meters

Average Weight

~500 kg

Average Length

~3 m

Geographic Distribution

• The Borderlands