Bug (Starship Troopers)
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The Arachnids (more commonly known as Bugs) are a fictional alien race from the movie Starship Troopers. Note that the bugs in the movie differ considerably of those in the novel on which it is based. In the novel, the bugs are called "Pseudo-Arachnids".
The bugs in the movie are basically portrayed as mindless insects. However, at the beginning of the film, when Rico and Carmen dissect Arkellian sand beetles, the biology teacher states that the Arachnids have millions of years of evolution behind them and now have the ability to colonize planets "by hurling their spore into space". In the novel, it is established that the Bugs have spacecraft, beam weapons and advanced technology, far from the mindless insects of the movie.
Currently, Mongoose Publishing has started work on creating a role-playing game of Starship Troopers as well as model miniatures.
Castes of bugs
- Brain Bug—Leader of a Bug colony. It is created when a colony's size reaches three hundred generations. It is hinted at in the novel that the Brain Bug is telepathic and shares a symbiotic relationship with the Bug Colony (i.e. If it dies, the colony dies). Whereas In the movie, it feeds and assimilates knowledge by drinking a human's brain, and is carried by thousands of small cockroach insects called Chariot Bugs.
- Tanker Bug—Resembles a giant bombardier beetle. Has the ability to launch a biocorrosive liquid from its head.
- Plasma Bug—Resembles a giant firefly. Has the ability to launch a massive plasma burst into orbit, which can deflect an asteroid or slice a ship in two. It is most vulnerable when creating a plasma burst.
- Hopper—Resembles a giant wasp. It glides rather than flies, and decapitates men.
- Warrior—Most common. Has four legs and two giant pinchers which are used for defense. In the novel, Warriors are armed with beam or plasma based weaponry.
- Worker— The Worker Bugs do the manual labour for the Colony. They are defenceless and flee at the first sign of danger. However, near the end of the novel, it is noted that the colony uses a massive horde of Workers to swarm over and distract the Mobile Infantry while the warriors prepared a greater trap.
- "Body snatcher"—Resemble small spiders. Enters through the mouth and take control of a person's mind. These bugs were used in an attempt to conquer the Federation. They were first seen in the sequel "Hero of the Federation".
Castes not shown in the movie but made mention in the CGI cartoon and the Mongoose RPG:
- Rippler— creature from Hydora that was manipulated genetically to become part of the bug swarms. The Rippler is a flying creature with six legs which shoots acidic barbs at their targets. Unlike other bug species, the rippler is not created by a queen but rather from a mother rippler.
- Infiltrator— 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 the enemies midst.
- Jungle Spider— large agile creatures that move around on six strong legs allowing them to jump at an impressive rate. They can shoot a sticky web to encase their prey for return to the controlling brain bug for 'questioning'.
- Firefly— small six legged parasitical bugs that are created by infecting other life forms with their spores. The infected give rise to numerous fireflies which can shoot out a stream of flame against their targets.