Gushitos

Gushitos split from their ancestor and became obligate blood-suckers of all organisms with iron-based blood. With their ability to fly and their iron-based nature making them difficult to digest, their spread was near-unrestrained. Like a terran flea, they have developed heavy resistance to being squashed: even in species which have thinner exoskeletons to cope with less iron available, they can withstand immense force without being crushed. The reproductive spear of Gushitos is kept curled under their chin when not in use. They have developed an additional wing membrane between the elbow and the neck, which serves to streamline the wing shape further and grant them better control. Gushito antennae are incredibly fluffy and sensitive, allowing them to easily hear and evade most attempts by their hosts to swat them away. Like their ancestor, they are largely solitary but gather in large flocks to mate during breeding season. Pairs fight over which one gets to fertilize the other, each attempting to stab the other’s abdomen with their reproductive spear. Genetic material is discharged directly into the wound, where the eggs inside are fertilized. The eggs eventually hatch, and the larvae grow fast and feed on the mother’s blood until they burst out, killing their mother. There are many species of Gushito. Some specialize in specific lineages to feed from, while others are generalist feeders. Some species in colder regions hibernate underground over the winter. No matter what, though, they are only present where other organisms with iron-based blood are also present. They are somewhat better swimmers than their ancestor for the sake of not drowning in rain, but varieties that fly over oceans still largely only feed on what’s floating on the surface.