Brutishelm Uksip

The brutishelm uksip has split from its ancestor and moved up along the western half of the continent of Darwin. While extremely similar in terms of caste systems compared to that of their ancestors, what has changed is their lifestyle. No longer are they restricted to underground nests, but instead these creatures swarm in great numbers that form living columns of flesh that can be dozens upon dozens of feet in length, and tightly packed with countless warriors and harvesters. While they still take in some vegetation, they much prefer to hunt fauna, which they will swarm in mass. Few creatures can survive once en-swarmed, for the poison secreted by warriors causes a burning, blistering sting that incites more warriors to bite by releasing potent pheromones into the air. Within minutes, most smaller organisms can be consumed alive, though larger ones have a chance to escape into water sources where the swarm cannot follow.

Because of their highly mobile lifestyle, permanent nests are impossible, thus the swarm will instead dig out temporary ones from time to time, typically near a water source. Here the queens will then breed, and the resulting larvae will have to mature rapidly, at least into a form that can survive on land, which typically takes about three days, just quick enough so as to allow them to avoid being left behind when the swarm moves again. Any that are left behind, however, have the potential to start a new swarm as long as a viable queen is available.