Insectoids

See also: Infestation

These giant insect-like creatures live underground and burrow up to attack when attracted by noise or pheromone signals. Originally from the planet Sorne, interstellar entrepreneurs managed to capture, genetically-modify, and vat-grow the insect colonies for use as weapons. It's not clear who placed Sorne insects on this planet, but they are here and as dangerous as ever.

— Faction description

Insectoids are an ecosystem of genetically engineered insect-like animals that function, in part, like a permanently hostile faction. The insectoids that populate this faction are slow-moving, melee-only animals that are themselves are not always automatically hostile to colonists, but can be a serious surprise threat to any colony when encountered during an infestation.

Megascarab

A large, genetically-engineered beetle. Once the worker caste of an artificial ecosystem of insectoids designed to fight mechanoid invasions, it is now often seen without its deadlier insectoid cousins. Still, its size and hard shell make it dangerous when it attacks. A eusocial creature, it cannot reproduce individually.

Megaspider

Not actually a spider, the megaspider is a genetically-engineered giant insectoid the size of a bear. Designed for heavy work and combat, its thick chitinous armor makes it hard to kill, while its long ripper-blades make it deadly at close quarters. It is, however, quite slow in open terrain.

Spelopede

A medium-sized bioengineered insectoid the size of a sheep. The spelopede is the middle caste of a hive, taking care of most work tasks as well as fighting with its digging claws. It's dangerous in combat, but slow on open ground.

Summary

Insectoids from Infestation attack after triggering old trap

Insectoids are animals. Uniquely, insectoids experience hypothermic slowdown instead of hypothermia. They have 0 Toxic Sensitivity, rendering them immune to toxic buildup from any source. When butchered, they give insect meat, which is disgusting for humans to eat.

As part of an infestation, they are a "faction" that is hostile to every other faction in the world. They will mantain hives, which, if left untampered with, will produce more insectoids - as well as insect jelly. Hostile insectoids may also be found in ancient structures and the ancient cryptosleep caskets inside them. Unlike other raiders, and because they are animals, insectoids don't have any ranged attacks. However, their decent armor and sheer mass of their force make them extreme threats if not handled properly.

Infestations that don't see enemies may be "triggered" via hostile actions, such as mortars or traps. Once triggered, they'll rush towards a random direction up to 100 tiles away, attempting to find other hostiles. Any tile they use to sleep will reset their range. They move slowly, attack directly and mindlessly, so are vulnerable to to more sophisticated tactics like kiting. Insectoids will mine through walls and rock.

Megascarabs may be found in the wild in the desert or extreme desert biomes, where they are not hostile until attacked. All insectoids may be tamed, but the others will always start hostile, it is a very difficult task which often requires downing them.

Lore

See also: Lore

Only a limited amount is known as about the origins of Insectoids, and most is provided from the faction description above. The planet Sorne was the original homeworld of the insectoids, before they were captured, genetically modified, and vat-grown by interstellar entrepreneurs for use as weapons, and exported to other worlds by parties unknown. As all seemingly-alien life is claimed to have originated on Earth, it is possible that the original pre-weaponization Sorne Geneline evolved from Earth life on the planet, or were already genetically engineered for some reason before being modified again.

The purpose of the modification is known however - they were intended to act as artificial ecosystem of insectoids designed to fight mechanoid invasions. Given the past tense used in the source, it is possible that the current insectoid ecosystem seen on the rimworld does not function as originally designed. Notably however, mechanoids and insectoids do remain permanently hostile to each other, a fact that can occasionally be exploited.

Pawns

Pawn Type	Image	Combat Power	Armor (S/B/H)	DPS	Move speed	Additional Info
Megascarab		40	72% / 18% / 0%	1.4	3.75 c/s
Megaspider		150	27% / 18% / 0%	2.52	3.6 c/s	-
Spelopede		75	18% / 18% / 0%	2.02	3.65 c/s	-

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Factions

Human Factions

Ancients (Neutral, Hostile) • Tribes (Gentle, Fierce, Savage, Cannibal, Nudist, Fierce neanderthal, Savage impid) • Outlanders (Civil, Rough, Rough pig) • Pirates (Normal, Cannibal, Yttakin, Waster) • Empire

Non-human Factions

Insectoids • Mechanoids

Related

Faction base • Raider