Lardworm
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The lardworm split from its ancestor. When some twelve-winged worms ventured out into the Darwin Tropical Woodland, they found that there was more food than in their previous home. Due to an abundance of food, they have become twice their ancestor's original size. The lardworm has lost 2 pairs of wings since it no longer glides; instead, it simply flies around. It has also become an omnivore and will hunt some of its relatives including powder petitworms and vitesenzas. In order to crunch through their exoskeletons, its mouth has evolved jagged edges. It also has developed an immunity to xidhorchia poison and can easily eat them.
The lardworm gets its name because during the fall or dry season, it immediately eats large quantities of food so it can store fat for the winter. During this time, it also flies for short distances instead of actively flying around like it does during the summer or wet season. When winter or dry season occurs, large masses of lardworms crawl into dark shelters including, abandoned burrows, rotting stumps and logs, and even under large rocks; once they have found shelter, they begin their long hibernation. Once spring arrives, the masses of lardworms quickly crawl out, leave each other, and begin their search for food. Then when summer or wet season occurs, mating season begins and they gather in swarms to find mates. Once they have found their mates, they head out into an area with large plants. When the lardworms have found them, they lay 15-25 eggs on a large plant and leave them behind. The larva look like wingless versions of their adult form, but they are just as gluttonous as the adults. However, not all make it to adulthood because many predators find them very tasty and rich in protein and fat. Not even the adults are safe since they too are quite delectable, especially during the winter or dry season, when they are all huddled up and asleep. They live for 2 years.
Living Relatives (click to show/hide)
