Archive for ‘Insect-O-Facts’

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Insect-O-Fact # 13 – The Fungus Mines of Coryn

by drocha on March 24, 2011 at 9:21 AM
Posted In: Insect-O-Facts

Please enjoy Page 6 and the accompanying Insect O Fact.

The Fungus Mines of Coryn

In the early designs of Coryn, the landscape was speckled with various ‘smurfesque’ mushrooms, and flora. While I liked the idea of building on the terrain, and using it to the ants’ advantage, this did not seem to be the way to do it. And so many hours were spent sketching, and erasing, and scribbling, and writing, until finally while on a camping trip with friends the answer came.

We were walking through the woods when we came across some bright, and beautiful fungus growing on a fallen tree. It was a vivid orange in colour, and the shape seemed to flow from the tree, and within itself. As we continued our walk we saw more and more of this strange fungus, in some cases it seemed to be more prevalent than the tree it was growing from.

Upon returning to the campsite, I grabbed my sketchpad, and started work on what would become the concept design for the new Coryn. I used this fantastic fungus to create a unique look, and better still a backbone to the ant colony. As the twisted team would continue Coryn’s design and development, the fungus became an integral part of the hill ant community.

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Insect-O-Facts 3 & 4

by drocha on March 3, 2011 at 2:44 PM
Posted In: Insect-O-Facts

Insect-O- Fact #3
“Baron Tarq the Sand Wasp”: Baron Tarq is a mean, evil, ruthless tyrant. I needed to choose an appropriately evil insect for his character. The Sand Wasps are natural predators. While they hunt and feed on a variety of insects the most favourable or consistent prey appears to be flies. This little tidbit could make for a rather interesting relationship between Tarq and Admiral Cree (Admiral of the Fly Federation).The Sand Wasps’ nests attract different parasitic flies, and wasps. The Sand Wasp has been known to feed even on the Wasp parasites. This is an extremely rare phenomenon in the Animal Kingdom. Wow. It doesn’t get much more ruthless or evil than that!

Insect-O-Fact #4
“Pheromones”: Pheromones, for me, are one of the most interesting aspects of this story and its potential. These pheromones, or Ecto-Hormones, are transported outside the body resulting in a direct developmental effect on hormone levels or behavioural change. These effects vary, just as the type of pheromones vary. There are Aggregation pheromones (like an insect booty call!), Alarm pheromones (often used by bees), Trail pheromones (ants use them when scouting for food), and many more!This puts a new meaning to ‘spidey senses’, and should surely add a new dynamic level of abilities to my creatures. I’m not using super powers in this series, but with innate abilities like this possessed by all insects, who needs super powers!?!

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Insect-O-Facts # 1 & 2

by drocha on February 28, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Posted In: Insect-O-Facts

Insect-O-Fact #1
Diapause: It is currently harvest time throughout The Underground. Throughout the land insects of all breeds are preparing themselves for the Great Chill. Gathering as much food and supplies as possible, concerning themselves only with the coming change of season.During the Great Chill (winter) many insects go into a state of hibernation called ‘diapause’. While in this state, Ladybugs in particular will feed on their stored body fat. The harvest is very important then, because it gives the Ladybugs enough sustenance to survive the long hard winter.
Diapause
Insect-O-Fact #2
“Beetles”: This one’s for my family! Did you know that the Ladybug is actually a form of beetle? In fact, beetles make up the largest order of living things with about 290,000 species known worldwide. And NO, that does NOT include all of my ‘Beedle’ family members here in the Windsor area! Beedle family? Bug comic? Coincidence? Purely!
Beetles

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