Scarabaeus hypnoticus
(Hypnotic beetle)
Common names: hypnotic bug, hypno-beetle, golden bug, three-eye, light-bug
Basic info
Female Scarabaeus hypnoticus in its natural environment.
Scarabaeus hypnoticus have six limbs, that are often thought of as four legs and two arms. However, this separation is not entirely accurate as Scarabaeus hypnoticus use all six for walking and for holding items. The four hind limbs grow from the lower part of their body, and have two large fingers and sticky pads on their bottom that allow the Scarabaeus hypnoticus to walk on walls and ceilings as well as pick up items. The two additional limbs that grow from their thorax have three fingers, adding an opposing thumb, which make holding things easier and associated these two limbs with hands in the human mind.
The Scarabaeus hypnoticus front two limbs have ‘hands’ with three fingers, including an opposing thumbs.
The head of the Scarabaeus hypnoticus is adorned with two impressive horns, that differentiate between males and females. Females have longer horns that serve more for intimidation. Males have shorter horns, that are more functional both for movement in narrow underground spaces and for protection. Though their horns seem threatening, their bite is far more dangerous. Their mouth, barely visible from the front, is equipped with short very sharp teeth with potent acid saliva. Both teeth and saliva are designed for cutting through and softening hardened roots, but can cause damage to flesh as well.
Size: 15-20cm
Mass: 150-170g
Lifespan: The average life cycle of the Scarabaeus hypnoticus is approximately 5 years, with about 2 years in adult form.
Description: The Scarabaeus hypnoticus is a fairly large insectoid magion. They have a robust exoskeleton, made mainly from chitin and calcium carbonate, but also includes iron pyrite. This combination results in very hard, very shiny outer shell that is rumored to have magical properties.
The body of the Scarabaeus hypnoticus is rather bulbous in shape, with a relatively small thorax, a large head and a rounded lower body that ends with a short tail. The tail has a globular end with a small cluster of whiskers, used to sense vibrations in the air and earth around them.
Scarabaeus hypnoticus hind limbs feet: side and bottom view
Scarabaeus hypnoticus have three bright red eyes, organized in a triangular form at the front of their head. Although all three look alike, only the two lower ones actually function as eyes. The third one is often referred to as the “light-eye” because it emits light, either continuous or in pulses. The light-eye can be used to illuminate a space, but that is generally unnecessary for the Scarabaeus hypnoticus as they are capable of seeing in the dark. The pulsing light of the light-eye, however, is extremely useful both for communication and for preservation. The Scarabaeus hypnoticus use the pulsing light to communicate from a distance in the dark, and this is often how males find a female interested in a mate. However, the light-eye is most famous for its ability to create pulsating patterns that hypnotise the viewer and cause various effects, from stun to amnesia.
Male Scarabaeus hypnoticus have shorter horns than females, for easier movement underground. Females have long impressive horns to scare away predators and protect their young.
Watch an introduction video about the Scarabaeus hypnoticus
Habits & Culture
Scarabaeus hypnoticus are generally solitary creatures, with males and females existing separately. Male Scarabaeus hypnoticus spend most of their adult life moving about in search for mates. They generally do not stay long in one place, when they find a female with a ready nest they will remain for a two-three days for mating and then continue in search for another female’s nest. Females purposely build their nest in isolated areas, so it may take several days, even weeks, before the male finds another.
Development stages of Scarabaeus hypnoticus young: eggs, larva (in late stages), and pupa
Females spend their adult life building and guarding their nests, and then their eggs and young. The nest is usually an underground hollow, dug by the female. Ideally, it would be located under a deep-rooted tree, assuring the female food supply for her and her young. Once the nest is ready, females spend their time accumulating fat until a male comes along. That fat will be used for the eggs for nutrition.
A female will usually lay 20-30 eggs, out of which about one half to two-thirds will hatch successfully. The eggs hatch after a period of 4 to 5 weeks as small grubs or larva, only about 7 millimeter in length and are dark grey in color. Over the next two years the larva will grow and molt several times, until they reach approximately 15 centimeters. During this time, the mother stays with her young, making sure that they are fed and keeping them safe from predators, as the larva are blind, and quite defenseless without the light-eye.
Finally, after they reach nearly adult size, the larva molts one more time to turn to a pupa, and will remain so for approximately one year, though the period differs a bit between males and females, with females generally emerging a few weeks before the males. The mother will make sure that the pupa are well hidden and will remain with them as long as she can, but usually she will die before they emerge.
Female Scarabaeus hypnoticus readying a root to nourish her young at the larva stage: After cleaning the root she will spit some acidic saliva on it to soften it.
Young Scarabaeus hypnoticus emerge from their pupa in their full size and development, though their exoskeleton is a little soft. They will remain in the nest for a few days after emerging, until it is completely hardened and then leave, the females to find their own nest and the males to find females.
We have more knowledge about the Scarabaeus hypnoticus than about most magions because magic practitioners used to keep them as familiars. The hypnotic abilities of the Scarabaeus hypnoticus were very useful to witches who often found themselves on the run, and reportedly saved many witches from dire ends.
Humans usually kept female Scarabaeus hypnoticus; the males tended to become restless, wanting to set out in search of mates. But females were often quite happy to have their nest with a human. As long as their young were fed and safe, they were happy to aid the human that helped them.
Magic practicing humans kept Scarabaeus hypnoticus as familiars, for their hypnosis abilities and for the properties of their molts.
The moults of Scarabaeus hypnoticus were also coveted, for they seemed to retain some sort of magic in them and were useful in potions. Particularly, it seems, in sleeping and/or relaxation potions.
As magic became less common among humans, the connection with Scarabaeus hypnoticus lessened, and some knowledge was lost to us. Very few humans still deal with the magical world, but among those who do the Scarabaeus hypnoticus is still a popular pet, and thankfully, they are perfectly capable of surviving without human interference, and continue to thrive deep under the ground.
