Bug (Starship Troopers)
Encyclopedia
The Bugs are an extraterrestrial race in the novel Starship Troopers
by Robert A. Heinlein
, its film adaptation
(and its first and second
sequels and spin-off television series
), sometimes also referred to as the Arachnids, although this is a misnomer, as the aliens are not related to Earth arachnids. The Bugs in the film differ considerably from those in the novel, which calls the Bugs Pseudo-Arachnids. Meanwhile, Mongoose Publishing
's Starship Troopers: The Miniatures Game
refers to them as the Arachnid Empire. In the third film in the franchise, the bugs are referred to as "Archie," similar to nicknames given to Germans ("Jerry") and the Viet Cong ("Charlie") in their respective wars. The novel's Bugs are highly susceptible to radiation and chemical attacks, and the Mobile Infantry frequently seals their escape holes.
oid beings, ruled and organized by an extremely intelligent overmind
. However, at the beginning of the film, when Rico and Carmen dissect Arkellian sand beetles, the biology teacher states that the Bugs have millions of years of evolution
behind them and are, in the case of survival capability, the perfect species. They have the ability to colonize planets "by hurling their spore into space" and possess a social structure which fits their mental capabilities.
In the novel, it is established that the Bugs have spacecraft
, beam weapons and other advanced technology, far from the mindless insects of the movie. The book also describes them as looking like "a madman's conception of a giant, intelligent spider." Interestingly, the book also reveals that the Bugs "see by infrared
:" though pitch dark to human eyes, the underground corridors of a Bug colony are well lit when viewed by the infrared "snoopers"
used by the Mobile Infantry
.
Bug society is based on a caste system in both the films and the books.
In the book, the "Worker Caste" and the "Warrior Caste" are both mentally controlled by the "Brain Caste" , which works on behalf of the "Queen" of each Bug colony.
star drive
, the spores can travel to other systems and impact with planets, thus spreading Arachnid eggs and creating a new generation of bugs.
In the first film, Klendathu
, Tango Urilla, and Planet P are the only worlds explicitly shown to be colonized by Arachnids, though an unspecified number of planets are under their control. It is also shown that they slaughtered a colony of "Mormon
extremists" on a planet called Dantana. In the TV show, multiple celestial bodies, including Pluto
and fictional planets, are inhabited by the Bugs.
as the designer of the show's creatures.
In the second episode, the character of Lieutenant Razak states that the Bugs in general are able to sense radio transmissions. Most Bugs are shown to survive in a wide range of environments, from the surface of Pluto
, to the methane atmosphere of Tophet, to Earth.
Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
by Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
, its film adaptation
Starship Troopers (film)
Starship Troopers is a 1997 American military science fiction film, written by Edward Neumeier , directed by Paul Verhoeven, loosely adapted from Starship Troopers, a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. It is the only theatrically released film in the Starship Troopers franchise...
(and its first and second
Starship Troopers 3
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder is a science fiction film, written and directed by Ed Neumeier and starring Casper Van Dien from the original movie and Jolene Blalock. The film is a sequel to Starship Troopers and Starship Troopers 2. The film was released directly to DVD in the US on August 5, 2008...
sequels and spin-off television series
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles
Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles was a CGI animated television series based on both the novel by Robert A. Heinlein and the 1997 film adaptation directed by Paul Verhoeven...
), sometimes also referred to as the Arachnids, although this is a misnomer, as the aliens are not related to Earth arachnids. The Bugs in the film differ considerably from those in the novel, which calls the Bugs Pseudo-Arachnids. Meanwhile, Mongoose Publishing
Mongoose Publishing
Mongoose Publishing is a prolific British manufacturer of role-playing games, miniatures, and card games, actively publishing material since 2001...
's Starship Troopers: The Miniatures Game
Starship Troopers: The Miniatures Game
Starship Troopers: The Miniatures Game was a short-lived miniature wargame released in 2005 by Mongoose Publishing, a gaming company based in the United Kingdom. It drew upon the novel, films, and TV series as inspiration through a license from Sony...
refers to them as the Arachnid Empire. In the third film in the franchise, the bugs are referred to as "Archie," similar to nicknames given to Germans ("Jerry") and the Viet Cong ("Charlie") in their respective wars. The novel's Bugs are highly susceptible to radiation and chemical attacks, and the Mobile Infantry frequently seals their escape holes.
Differences between the film and the novel
The Bugs in the film are portrayed as generally mindless insectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
oid beings, ruled and organized by an extremely intelligent overmind
Overmind
-In science fiction:*An interstellar Hive Mind in the Arthur C. Clark novel Childhood's End*The Zerg Overmind, one of the antagonists in the StarCraft series.*Overmind , a supervillain in the world of Marvel Comics...
. However, at the beginning of the film, when Rico and Carmen dissect Arkellian sand beetles, the biology teacher states that the Bugs have millions of years of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
behind them and are, in the case of survival capability, the perfect species. They have the ability to colonize planets "by hurling their spore into space" and possess a social structure which fits their mental capabilities.
In the novel, it is established that the Bugs have spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
, beam weapons and other advanced technology, far from the mindless insects of the movie. The book also describes them as looking like "a madman's conception of a giant, intelligent spider." Interestingly, the book also reveals that the Bugs "see by infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
:" though pitch dark to human eyes, the underground corridors of a Bug colony are well lit when viewed by the infrared "snoopers"
Night vision
Night vision is the ability to see in low light conditions. Whether by biological or technological means, night vision is made possible by a combination of two approaches: sufficient spectral range, and sufficient intensity range...
used by the Mobile Infantry
Mobile Infantry (Starship Troopers)
The Mobile Infantry is a fictional military force in Robert A. Heinlein's novel Starship Troopers and in the movies Starship Troopers, released in 1997, the 2004 sequel, Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, the 2008 film Starship Troopers 3: Marauder and the TV series Roughnecks: Starship...
.
Bug society is based on a caste system in both the films and the books.
In the book, the "Worker Caste" and the "Warrior Caste" are both mentally controlled by the "Brain Caste" , which works on behalf of the "Queen" of each Bug colony.
Colonization
The Arachnid Quarantine Zone consists of many star systems colonized by the Arachnids. At a turning point of their evolution, plasma bugs developed the ability to fire spores into orbit. Utilizing an bioshipBioship
A bioship is a type of spacecraft or starship described in science fiction. Bioships differ from other types of spacecraft in that they are composed, either predominantly or totally, of biological components, rather than being constructed from manufactured materials...
star drive
Faster-than-light
Faster-than-light communications and travel refer to the propagation of information or matter faster than the speed of light....
, the spores can travel to other systems and impact with planets, thus spreading Arachnid eggs and creating a new generation of bugs.
In the first film, Klendathu
Klendathu
Klendathu is the fictional homeworld of the extraterrestrial race known as the Bugs , in the fictional universe of the Robert A...
, Tango Urilla, and Planet P are the only worlds explicitly shown to be colonized by Arachnids, though an unspecified number of planets are under their control. It is also shown that they slaughtered a colony of "Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
extremists" on a planet called Dantana. In the TV show, multiple celestial bodies, including Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
and fictional planets, are inhabited by the Bugs.
Castes appearing in the novel
- Queen – The Queen of a Bug colony is the progenitor of the colony, whose sole function is the production of its members. In the novel, during the course of a mission attempting to capture queen and brain bugs, the bugs kill the queens rather than allow them to be captured. The TV series presents a single bug queen as the ruler of all the bugs.
- Brain Bug – Leader of a Bug colony. It is hinted at in the novel that the Brain Bug is telepathicTelepathyTelepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
and it is stated that the "brain" shares a symbiotic relationship with the Bug Colony and that if it dies, the colony dies. The "brains" are easily held by humans in their power suits. - Warrior – Are bred to serve as the infantry of the Bug forces. In the novel, Warriors are armed with beam- or plasma-based weaponryPlasma rifleWhen discussing weapons in science fiction, a plasma weapon is a type of raygun that fires a stream, bolt, pulse or toroid of plasma...
. The book describes them as visually indistinguishable to the workers except for aggression, fighting ability, and weaponry. - Worker – The Worker Bugs do the manual labour for the Colony, digging and upkeeping the tunnels. They are semi-defenseless and will usually flee at the first sign of danger unless they have no way out. They are physically similar to Warriors but possess a non-aggressive mentality. Near the end of the novel, a large mass of Workers were used as a decoy for the Mobile InfantryMobile Infantry (Starship Troopers)The Mobile Infantry is a fictional military force in Robert A. Heinlein's novel Starship Troopers and in the movies Starship Troopers, released in 1997, the 2004 sequel, Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation, the 2008 film Starship Troopers 3: Marauder and the TV series Roughnecks: Starship...
while their Warriors prepared a greater trap; the Workers did not fight, even when they were attacked.
Castes appearing in the films
- Warrior Bug - In the film, Warrior bugs are four-legged bugs approximately two to three meters long and are colored as to the terrain, such as desert warriors will be tan with black and yellow stripes. The rearmost pairs of legs are much longer than the two front forelegs, and serve as the primary locomotion, the forelegs being 1/3 shorter. Warrior bugs are quite agile and fast, they can climb and burrow if needed but would rather use tunnels made by burrower bugs. These Bugs utilize a powerful pincer-like mandible that is capable of crushing rock, metal and severing limbs as a means of attack. The two upper forelegs or "side mandibles" are utilized in the manner of swords for attack as well as defenseSelf-defenseSelf-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
. In the movie they fight only with their natural bodily weapons, but it is said that they can lose a limb and still fight at 86% efficiency.
- Control Bug – Enters through the mouth or in more aggressive and direct manners will burrow right into the brain from the skull and take control of a person's mind. These bugs were used in an attempt to conquer the Federation high command. They were seen in the sequel Hero of the Federation, and also appear in the TV series.
- Plasma Bug – Resembles a giant fireflyFireflyLampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
crossed with a stag beetleStag beetleStag beetles are a group of about 1,200 species of beetle in the family Lucanidae, presently classified in four subfamilies Some species grow up to over 12 cm , but most are about 5 cm .-Overview:...
. Typical adult Plasma Bugs can exceed 30 meters in length and stand more than 20 meters tall. Has the ability to launch a massive plasma burst into orbit, which can deflect an asteroidAsteroidAsteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
or slice a ship in two. It is most vulnerable when creating a plasma burst, and at all other times impervious to attack except on its underbelly. In the Bug forces, the Plasma Bug serves in ground artillery and air defense roles, as well as planetary defense. Despite their firepower, the Plasma Bug's role for offensive actions is mainly limited to fire support and long-range bombardment due to its huge size and the immense danger to nearby Bugs from a plasma explosion should one be hit. - Hopper – Resembles a giant waspWaspThe term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
in many ways. It is green and has chitinous jagged wings it uses to great effect to gain high altitude. It glides rather than flies as its wings barely have the muscle tissue to lift it up for altitude, when it reaches a suitable height before setting its wings rigidly and taking a long running leap from a high cliff and will decapitate men as it glides, or pierce them with a stinger on the abdomen. Its wings are used to gain altitude by angling like plane wings, it gains altitude by jumping, in upwards to 50 meters. In the television series, a new variation of Hopper (called a Rippler) capable of "shooting" a stinger filled with a corrosive toxin was revealed. - Tanker Bug – Resembles a giant bombardier beetleBombardier beetleBombardier beetles are ground beetles in the tribes Brachinini, Paussini, Ozaenini, or Metriini—more than 500 species altogether—which are most notable for the defense mechanism that gives them their name: When disturbed, the beetle ejects a noxious chemical spray in a rapid burst of pulses from...
. Tanker Bugs are generally black in color and are nearly as large as Plasma Bugs. Has the ability to spray a stream of flammable, corrosive liquid from its head. In the 1997 movie, the Tanker ejected fuel from a nozzle-like spout in the top of the head, which is ignited by an electric sparkElectric sparkAn electric spark is a type of electrostatic discharge that occurs when an electric field creates an ionized electrically conductive channel in air producing a brief emission of light and sound. A spark is formed when the electric field strength exceeds the dielectric field strength of air...
generated by two short antennae on either side of the spout. In the TV series, Tankers spew two separate chemicals from two tube-like nozzles on either side of the mouth where they are mixed along with small amounts of catalytic enzymes. When these chemicals mix they undergo a violent 'exothermic' chemical reaction. In the TV series, they bear a resemblance to AnguirusAnguirusis the second Kaiju to appear in the Toho franchise. Anguirus appeared only a year after Godzilla in the 1955 Toho film Godzilla Raids Again...
, with the head shape, similar roar, and even having spikes on its back. - Recon Bug – Flying bug which resembles a dragonfly. In the widescreen edition of the film, the bug is only briefly seen flying in Planet P. Whether it can attack or if "reconReconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
" truly applies to its role is unspecified. - Brain Bug – Giant bug that is the leader of all bugs in its colony. In the movie, it assimilates knowledge by consuming a human's brain, is carried by small cockroachCockroachCockroaches are insects of the order Blattaria or Blattodea, of which about 30 species out of 4,500 total are associated with human habitations...
-like insects called Chariot Bugs and is assumed to be created when the colony reaches a certain size. Scientists theorize in the first film these are formed after a certain number of generations of bugs (300 or so). - Scorpion Bug – Appeared in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. Officially called "Scorpion Class Pulse Warrior" and nicknamed "Scorp," Scorpion bugs are a new evolution of plasma bugs. They resemble giant scorpionScorpionScorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
s and can fire direct-energy plasma beams from their stingers, which makes them useful primarily on the front lines. The advent of this and the Bombardier bug forced the Mobile Infantry into trench warfareTrench warfareTrench warfare is a form of occupied fighting lines, consisting largely of trenches, in which troops are largely immune to the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery...
. - Bombadier Bug – Appeared in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. A.k.a. Grenade Bug. They appear to be the size of a basketball and are form of kamikazeKamikazeThe were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
, thrown at Mobile Infantry, before they detonate. - God Bug – Also known as the Brain of Brains or Behemecoatyl. Appeared in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. This Bug burrows itself into a planet where it can grow to the size of the planet itself. This Bug is hinted to be worshiped by all castes of bugs and can use telepathy to communicate to any other brain bug in the universe. This "God Bug" can take control of humans merely by piercing them. The Humans become pale and seem to die in time but can be used by the brain bug to speak any language that the human knew thus allowing Human communication between Arachnids and Humans. It is probable that there was only one of these bugs but before much information could be found out about it the Federation destroyed the planet it had infested with a Q-bomb, killing it.
Castes introduced in the TV series
The opening credits list Fil BarlowFil Barlow
Fil Barlow is an Australian artist, cartoonist, writer, production designer currently based in Los Angeles. Barlow is the creator of the Zooniverse comic book published in 1986-87.- Biography :...
as the designer of the show's creatures.
In the second episode, the character of Lieutenant Razak states that the Bugs in general are able to sense radio transmissions. Most Bugs are shown to survive in a wide range of environments, from the surface of Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
, to the methane atmosphere of Tophet, to Earth.
- Warriors are essentially identical to the ones in the film.
- Brain Bug - visually simplified from the more detailed Brain Bug in the film, the series' version is vulnerable to human telepathy; Carl Jenkins was able to make one explode in a psychic battle. When it dies, all nearby Bugs turn on each other violently. Like the film version, it can suck out human brains to acquire information.
- Plasma Bug - Again, a simpler visual model was used than that of the film's Plasma Bugs. These come in large and small sizes, as seen in episode 4. The same episode shows that they require time to "charge up" before firing, during which time they are volatile and may explode due to impact.
- Pluto flyers/Hoppers - Resemble the Hoppers from the film, however they are capable of true winged flight even in the minimal atmosphere of PlutoPlutoPluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
, and can fly fast enough to catch fighter jets; they are highly resistant to the standard firearms used by troopers and are attracted to laserLaserA laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
emissions. - Rippler/"Mamma" Rippler – Also known as "Kamikaze Ripplers". Creature first seen on Hydora. The Ripplers are flying creatures with six legs that are also able to swim at high speeds underwater (fast enough to outrun a skimmer ground effect vehicle), and shoot acidic barbs at their targets. Unlike other bug species, ripplers are not created by a queen but rather by a mother rippler, a much larger purple pigmented flightless rippler with spines covering its back.
- Human Hybrid Bug: When Zander Barcolo is infected by a Bug virus, he first goes insane, and then transforms into a human/Bug hybrid which is larger and stronger than a human being. He is instinctively drawn to KlendathuKlendathuKlendathu is the fictional homeworld of the extraterrestrial race known as the Bugs , in the fictional universe of the Robert A...
, the Bugs' home planet, where his physical transformation progresses further. Despite being initially overwhelmed by Bug instincts, he retains human intelligence and eventually manages to overcome these instincts, sacrificing his life to save humans. - Imposter bug – genetically created bugs that are made to be more bipedal and human like, these bugs can compact their bodies allowing them to fit into power armour and infiltrate enemy lines. Once deep enough, they return to their true form and unleash havoc in their enemies' midst.
- Infiltrator – a further evolved version of the Imposter bug strain, introduced in the Bugs' invasion of Earth. These Infiltrators were outwardly human in appearance but could revert into a bug form in combat situations. It was stated that they possess human DNA and could pass for human on a cursory scan. In their human form, the individuals were somewhat identical in appearance and limited in their conversations.
- Water Tigers – an aquatic species that were first sighted on Hydora. They were excellent swimmers and possessed a potent toxin that could paralyse prey.
- Rhino Bug – a much larger aquatic bug species that could live within the alkaline lakes of KlendathuKlendathuKlendathu is the fictional homeworld of the extraterrestrial race known as the Bugs , in the fictional universe of the Robert A...
; an environment that no one expected life to live in. They possessed four 'tusks'. They were similar swimmers to the Water Tigers. - Jungle Spider – Large, agile crab-like creatures approximately 4 meters long that move around on six strong legs allowing them to jump long distances. They can shoot a sticky web to encase their prey for return to their controlling brain bug for 'questioning', or for return to Nurser Bugs for nutrients for their offspring or as raw genetic material for the mutation/integration process.
- Firefry – small six-legged parasitical bugs similar to fireflies that are created by infecting other life forms with their spores. The firefry spores hatch under the skin of the infected host, then leave the host en masse, giving rise to a swarm of baby firefries about the size of normal fireflies, but rapidly grow into a vastly larger adult "infernofrier" (about the size of a Warrior Bug). Unlike fireflies, firefries not only generate light, but heat as well, and adults are capable of shooting out a stream of flame against their targets. Their adult forms can survive in a vacuum for extended periods. The firefries are used as fuel by the Ice Bug, and Jeff Gossard was able to rig a dropshipDropshipA Dropship is a fictional transport vehicle featured frequently in science fiction, in particular Military Science Fiction and Space Opera genres. A dropship is a common fictional spacecraft archetype, generally depicted as designed to drop troops and equipment onto a planetary surface from an...
engine to use a swarm of them as a fuel source for the spacecraft. - Control Bug – smallish black bugs about 30-40 centimeters in length capable of enslaving another species by leaping onto their necks and psychically controlling their victim. Unlike the control bugs of the films, these do not invade the host orally, and also are not shown to use the host to reproduce. Control Bugs can be driven from their hosts by X-rayX-rayX-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
radiation. - Ice Bug – Colossal, asteroid-sized bugs that hibernate for millennia in deep space until they acquire sufficient energy to reawaken. Ice Bugs are capable of destroying an entire planet, according to the comments of Higgins in episode 30.
- Giant Leech - Swarming limbless symbiotes which live on and in the Ice Bug. It produces Toxin B-3, which is lethal to other strains of bug, and is vulnerable to heat.
- Burrower Bug/Tanker Worm – These are large bloated worms with one gaping maw filled with nothing but teeth. They build and sculpt the spawning maze tunnels the insects traverse, by eating, regurgitating and excreting rock in many forms. They were thought by "Doc" LeCroix to have no form of offensive characteristics of their own besides biting and were merely a form of worker class.
- Pit Worm - Basically blind, but alerted by vibration, acts as an early warning system in the Hive Queen's lair on Klendathu; it screeches to alert warriors and can cut troopers' rappelling lines
- Nurser Bug – A beetle-like Bug that creates a powerful mutagenMutagenIn genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic material, usually DNA, of an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. As many mutations cause cancer, mutagens are therefore also likely to be carcinogens...
that modifies indigenous life forms caught as prey, to have their DNA combined with that of the Bug young to create different subspecies of Bug readily adapted to other worlds without the need for terraformingTerraformingTerraforming of a planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology to be similar to those of Earth, in order to make it habitable by terrestrial organisms.The term is sometimes used more generally as a...
. - Klendathu spider: large, spiny and with thin legs. Used by the Zander hybrid to drain human blood from captured troopers, possibly to contribute human DNA to Imposter and Infiltrator bugs.
- Blister Bug – reddish-brown Bugs approximately three meters in length with a huge gaping maw from which they can eject a powerful, corrosive green liquid that is capable of destroying a wide range of substances as well as flesh. Unlike the larger Tanker Bug that carries with it a supply of bio-flammable liquid, Blister Bugs must first produce the bio-corrosive acid in its abdomen that it spits forth from its maw to ranges of ten meters or more.
- Blaster Bug –nearly identical to the Blister Bug except it is larger and sprays a flammable liquid that burns at temperatures exceeding 500° Celsius instead of a corrosive liquid. Blaster Bug swarms can simultaneously fire large amounts of this fuel in synchronized bursts creating massive firestorms capable of fusing soil into a glass-like substance. Blaster Bugs swarms also generate enough residual heat collectively to form a dome-shaped heat shield capable of detonating incoming weapons fire and missiles. Like the Plasma Bug, they are also vulnerable underneath to explosive attacks. Unlike its cousin the Blister Bug, Blaster Bugs generally attack in massed swarms for maximum effect, whereas Blister Bugs attack individually or in smaller swarms supported by Warrior Bugs.
- Cliffmite Bug – Looking like giant dust mites, these will burrow into walls and leap out at enemies, trying to encase them so they can devour them. They will also rip hooks and lines out of walls, their most dangerous tactic as this usually seriously impedes, even imperils, human soldiers. They can climb vertically and at any angle.
- Transport Bug – These massive, ship-sized forms of bug function as the troop transport. They launch themselves from planets using plasma rockets, require large amounts of water as either fuel or reaction mass, and on the planet Tophet, reference is made to loading the Transport Bugs with a "bio-fissionableNuclear fissionIn nuclear physics and nuclear chemistry, nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts , often producing free neutrons and photons , and releasing a tremendous amount of energy...
" substance similar to what is used to fuel human starships. These living vessels carry the masses of the swarm from place to place to reinforce colonies or to bring important bugs like Brains or Queens to strategically important star-systems. In the Roughnecks episode "Trackers", it is implied that the Transport Bugs can cover a distance of some 75 light-years at speeds comparable to human-built starships. Transport bugs come in a variety of sizes, small ones can be seen (carried by a larger Transport) in the episode "Trackers". The outer shell of the Transport Bug used by the Queen is resistant to the missiles which destroyed other Transports, but was vulnerable to an internal nuclear explosion. - Worker Bug - Mentioned but not clearly seen. They dig tunnels that are apparently larger than those of the Tanker Worms.
- Unknown Bug - This caste was seen guarding the Queen's chamber on Klendathu. It vaguely resembles a Warrior but without the large crushing mandibles, with longer rear legs, and with a curved spike protruding from below the head.
Castes from the role-playing game
- Assassin bug – a species of bugs that were created as assassins where they attacked a sole target, normally the leader of a squad and were single minded in eliminating them.
- Chameleon bug – similar to the Assassin bug strain, these bugs possessed a skin that masked them with their environment.
- Spy bug— designed to look like cockroaches and served as spies.
- Breeder bug – a strain designed simply to lay large quantities of eggs. They can be commanded to double their production but this inevitably kills the breeder from exhaustion.
Castes from the first-person shooter game
- Tiger bug – Fundamentally the same as a Warrior, Tigers are more aggressive and have chitinous armor plates.
- Tiger Spit – A breed of the Tiger Bug. The Tiger Spit still has a physical shape similar to Tiger bugs except for the lower jaw, which lacks a hook that the former two bugs have, and their glowing green color. The Tiger Spit attacks with its front legs, mandibles, and raptorialRaptorialThe term raptorial implies much the same as "predatory", but most often refers to modifications of an arthropod's foreleg that make it function for the grasping of prey while it is consumed, where the gripping surfaces are formed from the opposing faces of two successive leg segments...
legs; most often, this bug attacks at a distance by spiting acid at its enemies, which is what it was bred for. - Tiger Shard – Another breed of the Tiger, the Tiger Shard has roughly the same physical shape as Tigers, but the Tiger Shard has maroon, yellow, and blue markings along with many spines on its body. Tiger Shards can attack with their front legs, mandibles, and raptorialRaptorialThe term raptorial implies much the same as "predatory", but most often refers to modifications of an arthropod's foreleg that make it function for the grasping of prey while it is consumed, where the gripping surfaces are formed from the opposing faces of two successive leg segments...
legs, but like the Tiger Spit, this bug often attacks at a distance, though it is easily provoked into a charge. Unlike the Tiger Spit the Tiger Shard fires darts of solidified plasma instead of acid, usually only firing these at close distance. - Baby Tanker – Like its name suggests this believed to be the infant form of the fearsome tanker bug, though there is uncertainty. Baby Tankers can easily intervene in a battle, scattering even the best mobile infantry units. Unlike larger Tankers, a Baby Tanker is small enough to provide close support in almost any situation, performing a similar function to a main battle tankMain battle tankA main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
. Baby Tankers attack with a corrosive spray from a tube on their head like their adult counterparts, with the added function of spitting the fluid in smaller globs over long distances. When an enemy gets close enough, a Baby Tanker will try to crush it. - Baby Plasma – The infant form of the massive plasma bug. Operating as both long range artillery support and anti-air support, this bug can intervene into any battle within range. Not only can this bug launch plasma from behind, but it can fire a stream of plasma from its head in the manner of a tanker bug. Also if an enemy gets to close this bug will use its massive body to crush it.
- Rhino – A large, heavy insect resembling a Rhino Beetle. They are fast, clumsy insects that attack by charging and trampling or gouging their enemy with a large horned tusk. They are virtually invulnerable from the front, but can easily be killed by shooting in the brightly colored tissue in their rear.
- Royal – A larger variant of the warrior, Royals are the generals of the bug army, and bodyguards of the Brain Bug. They are completely invulnerable to weapons' fire, except for their eyes, which can be destroyed to reveal the vulnerable nerve stem.
- X-Bug – The X-bug was an experiment conducted by Psi-Ops in order to destroy the bug army. It exuded massive amounts of pheromones, drawing bugs from as much as two hundred kilometers away for the Mobile infantry to destroy. It has the same weakness as a Royal, though it must be angered to expose the nerve stem on its chest once the eyes are shot out.