Insectoids

Insectoids are insect-like creatures. They are not always automatically hostile to colonists, but can be a serious surprise threat to any colony when encountered during an infestation.

Like pirates, they have a hostile attitude to every faction in the world (including ancients and mechanoids). It is possible to manipulate this to your advantage if both are on the map at the same time.

Insectoids from Infestation rushed up to 100 tiles after triggering old deadfall trap

Insectoids from infestations may trigger traps, causing them to rush towards a random direction up to 100 tiles away in a single horde and then return when no hostile was found. It's best to let them retreat before striking again, to prevent them from rushing through the whole map, as any tile they use to sleep will reset their range until they get back to their hives.

Megascarabs (only) inhabit desert and extreme desert maps together with other local animals, and are non-hostile unless harmed.
During an infestation, all varieties may spawn from hives, and keep spawning until the hive is destroyed. Insectoids will protect their hive by attacking any humans or animals that venture too close but keep to themselves otherwise.
Insectoids may also be found in ancient structures and within ancient cryptosleep caskets as well. Since the Ancient structures are usually under a mountain, sudden infestations can take place in the underground areas as separate events.
Insectoids were genetically engineered to fight Mechanoid invasions and thus the two factions are always hostile to one another. This can be occasionally be used to your advantage.
It is possible to tame them, but, since they are always hostile, usually only once they are downed.

See also: Infestation

Types

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.

Megascarab cocoon

A stasis cocoon containing a megascarab.
When conditions are inhospitable, insects sometimes form stasis cocoons and burrow underground. These cocoons keep insects safe from fire, extreme temperatures, and other threats for years.
Pollutants can stimulate cocoons and cause them to resurface, and strong pollutants can attract cocoons from great distances.
Cocoons do nothing if they are not disturbed. If a cocoon is disturbed or destroyed, the insect within will awaken and attack, triggering other nearby cocoons in the process.

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.

Megaspider cocoon

A stasis cocoon containing a megaspider.
When conditions are inhospitable, insects sometimes form stasis cocoons and burrow underground. These cocoons keep insects safe from fire, extreme temperatures, and other threats for years.
Pollutants can stimulate cocoons and cause them to resurface, and strong pollutants can attract cocoons from great distances.
Cocoons do nothing if they are not disturbed. If a cocoon is disturbed or destroyed, the insect within will awaken and attack, triggering other nearby cocoons in the process.

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.

Spelopede cocoon

A stasis cocoon containing a spelopede.
When conditions are inhospitable, insects sometimes form stasis cocoons and burrow underground. These cocoons keep insects safe from fire, extreme temperatures, and other threats for years.
Pollutants can stimulate cocoons and cause them to resurface, and strong pollutants can attract cocoons from great distances.
Cocoons do nothing if they are not disturbed. If a cocoon is disturbed or destroyed, the insect within will awaken and attack, triggering other nearby cocoons in the process.