Lore Theory: Hollow Bough is the Breeding Ground for Mactera

[GIRL]

^ Title. Think logically and this makes a lot of sense. Let's look at the evidence:

- Mactera are based on either flies or wasps, but I'm leaning more towards flies since we already have wasp nests, and there's even one called a Brundle fly.
- In Hollow Bough, there are maggot-like larvae called "corpse feeders." Maggots are the larval stage of flies.
- Goo sacks exist, and contain an unknown yellow substance. Safe to walk in, but possibly harmful in concentrated doses. Definitely not good to get inside you, I'd imagine.
- Corpse feeders are probably vegetarian despite how gross they look, since they're called "corpse feeders" but we never see them eat anything. This implies the "corpse" may be the Hollow Bough itself, which is a giant plant.

Now with this evidence, I'll connect the dots.

Let's say Corpse Feeders are larval Mactera. They start their life inside the Bough walls, eating away at the plant material until they pupate and can fly.

After becoming adults, because they are vegetarian (or at least omnivorous), they feed off of the Goo Sacks in the same biome - notably, a bright yellow plant(?) full of unsanitary goo. This is what gives most Mactera their yellow abdomens, as well as being the source for their yellow projectile attacks (goo = not safe to inject into Dwarves).

Goo Bombers are simply evolutionary variants, invasive species of Mactera that found their way into the Fungus Bogs and Glacial Strata biomes, and without any natural predators, gorged themselves until they could barely fly. The unique properties of these biomes gave their eyes and abdomens a different hue, as well as changing their attack.

*closes folder* I rest my case.

[ShugoTheRipper]

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Escrito originalmente por ShugoTheRipper:

Breeding you say? UwU

Who are you and what have you done to the real shugo?

This was in me all along.

[GIRL]

Escrito originalmente por Deadweight:

Look more like grubs than maggots to me, there are obviously beetles hiding somewhere

I'm no expert but I do study bugs as a hobby, and I'm quite sure they're based off maggots. The main difference between a maggot and a grub (both are larvae) is that maggots don't have legs, since they're born right inside of their food. They also have little claw-like mouth bits for latching onto their corpse.

Between that and the name "corpse feeder" I'm almost certain they're more maggot-y than grubby. They also don't seem to have a distinct "head" which grubs do.

[Toastie Buns]

Escrito originalmente por Femboy Thighs:

This theory also explains how Steeves work. The perk is simply a reprogramming tool. The Glyphids are basically just biological robots, the Beast Tamer perk simply flips a switch in their programming to make them help the Dwarf temporarily.

Well...? Is your mind blown yet?

No, I will never succumb to your lies and disinformation. The theory on why steeves work is because dwarves go down the wrong path in life. They're sympathisers, nothing more nothing less using questionable methods to tame them. These abominations are even worse than normal bugs and should be rightfully squished with resupplies

[Powerfull]

Escrito originalmente por ShugoTheRipper:

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Who are you and what have you done to the real shugo?

This was in me all along.

Shugo u good? Do you need to let this... stuff out of ur chest man?

[Torres, The Devourer]

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Escrito originalmente por ShugoTheRipper:

This was in me all along.

Shugo u good? Do you need to let this... stuff out of ur chest man?

The ultimate meme lord is a man of many motives.
The less you question him, the more he makes sense

[Deadweight]

Escrito originalmente por Femboy Thighs:

Between that and the name "corpse feeder" I'm almost certain they're more maggot-y than grubby.

ok but the corpse is the tree, which would line it up with grubs that are born into eating dead wood

"no legs" doesn't matter much because these are space bugs with different rules, shellbacks are missing most of theirs no matter what they're based on

still looks something more like a borer grub to me idk

[Optimus Prime]

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Escrito originalmente por DerpyLemon:

On the PSA board it can sometimes say "PSA: Thanks to the efforts of our employees, we are now serving 'Glyphid' Omelettes in the Mess Hall!" likely due to the egg hunt mission.

Any other questions before I head off to work?

Yes, wtf are spitballers? are they fauna or flora?

baby thorians

[GIRL]

Escrito originalmente por Deadweight:

ok but the corpse is the tree, which would line it up with grubs that are born into eating dead wood

Hmmm good point... Coincidentally, another thing common with borer grubs is that they get parasitized by Ichneumon wasps. So what if... the corpse feeders are grubs, but they end up getting parasitized by the weird fly/wasp hybrids that are the Mactera? Still making them essential in the life cycle of Mactera.

I also would love to see some beetle representation in DRG. I've seen people compare Praetorians/Dreadnoughts to beetles, but they aren't. They have 8 legs and lack any hint at an ability to fly.

Weirdly, though, the thing Dreadnoughts pop out of are called "cocoons" and it's said they're "pupating," which is... not what arachnids do in our world.

If we assume that Macteta are some sort of weird fusion between fly and wasp, then maybe that's the common thread on DRG's enemy design: combining two unrelated bugs together.

Glyphids (including Dreadnaughts) are probably a combination of ants and spiders, then. Arachnids with 8 legs, some of which spit web, but with the social behavior (and appearance, somewhat) of ants, as well as the holometabolous life stages (for non-nerds, holometabolous means they have a pupal stage where they change from a larva to an adult).

[Deadweight]

Escrito originalmente por Femboy Thighs:

Hmmm good point... Coincidentally, another thing common with borer grubs is that they get parasitized by Ichneumon wasps. So what if... the corpse feeders are grubs, but they end up getting parasitized by the weird fly/wasp hybrids that are the Mactera? Still making them essential in the life cycle of Mactera.

sure, I'd believe that mactera are the kind of bugs to pull the 'lay eggs in living paralyzed host' thing

I also would love to see some beetle representation in DRG. I've seen people compare Praetorians/Dreadnoughts to beetles, but they aren't. They have 8 legs and lack any hint at an ability to fly.

I do have an idea for one, drew it up and all. Can post it when I can be assed to finish it.

Glyphids (including Dreadnaughts) are probably a combination of ants and spiders, then. Arachnids with 8 legs, some of which spit web, but with the social behavior (and appearance, somewhat) of ants, as well as the holometabolous life stages (for non-nerds, holometabolous means they have a pupal stage where they change from a larva to an adult).

ye that sounds about right

I still prefer to think the grubs are more for some kind of horned beetle like a hercules, but with some tiger beetle mixed in.

[Powerfull]

Who would have tought the guy on the internet called ''femboy thighs'' knows so much about insects

[Torres, The Devourer]

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Who would have tought the guy on the internet called ''femboy thighs'' knows so much about insects

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCqq5t2vi_G753e19j6U-Ypg
Femboys are great

[Powerfull]

Escrito originalmente por Coach, The Devourer:

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Who would have tought the guy on the internet called ''femboy thighs'' knows so much about insects

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCqq5t2vi_G753e19j6U-Ypg
Femboys are great

If it's what you think...
''femboys are great'' -Coach, The Devourer, 2022

[Torres, The Devourer]

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Escrito originalmente por Coach, The Devourer:

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCqq5t2vi_G753e19j6U-Ypg
Femboys are great

If it's what you think...
''femboys are great'' -Coach, The Devourer, 2022

Yes they are great AND cute.
This coming from a guy who likes girls.
Femboys are cool and I’m tired of pretending their not.

[Chibbity]

Escrito originalmente por Coach, The Devourer:

Yes they are great AND cute.
This coming from a guy who likes girls.
Femboys are cool and I’m tired of pretending their not.

+1

If they want to be treated like a girl, then I want to treat them like a girl; because I'm a Gentleman!

; D

[GIRL]

Escrito originalmente por Powerfull:

Who would have tought the guy on the internet called ''femboy thighs'' knows so much about insects

The world is full of wonders like this, my friend.