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Description
For 's "Populating Mu" project.

Fig. 1: Titanoctonus erenjaegeri
Taxonomy: Hymenoptera, Sphecidae
Habitat: The interior forests of Mu,
Diet: Adult drinks nectar, larvae feed on Megatitan and other large katydids
Size: Up to 6 cm long

This is a large, solitary hunting wasp, a member of the globally-distributed family Sphecidae. As with all members of this group, it is solitary, and females lay their eggs on a paralyzed victim that their larvae will consume when they hatch. What makes them remarkable, though, is their choice of prey. Titanoctonus preys on Megatitan, a giant flightless katydid which can grow to nearly a foot in length. Despite the katydid being almost four times the wasp's size, its sting is powerful enough to paralyze even very large specimens. Once this is done, the wasp drags its motionless victim back to its burrow, where it is buried-- along with a wasp egg-- and then sealed in with soil. The katydid remains alive but paralyzed during this process, and only dies once the mature larva begins to eat its vital organs. The larva then pupates inside its victim's remains, and overwinters as a pupa before emerging from its burrow to seek food and a mate.

Fig 2: Formicopapilio vesperus
Taxonomy: Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae
Habitat: Temperate forests, wherever symbiont ants are found
Diet: Adult feeds on nectar. Larvae are fed food scraps by Salimyrmex ants
Size: 10 cm wingspan

Formicopapilio is a direct descendant of Pleiades, a butterfly which had the unusual characteristic of being a brood parasite. Its caterpillars would mimic the pheromones of Salimyrmex ants, so the ants would feed them just as they would their own larvae. Now, however, this relationship has evolved into something more mutualistic. Like its ancestor, the caterpillars of Formicopapilio live inside ant nests, where they are fed and guarded by the ants. In this case, though, both sides give and get. The caterpillar exudes a sweet liquid from glands along the sides of its body, which the ants feed on, and in exchange for a continuous supply of this food, the ants guard and feed the caterpillar. However, this "mutual respect" only goes so far; once the caterpillar has pupated and emerged as an adult butterfly, the ants no longer recognize it, and it must escape the nest as quickly as possible without being attacked.

Fig 3: Dolichoacridis baculiforme
Taxonomy: Orthoptera, Dolichoacrididae
Habitat: Temperate forest floor
Diet: Low-growing vegetation of various kinds
Size: Up to 18 cm long

Despite appearances, Dolichoacridis is not a member of the "walking-stick" insect group. It is, in fact, a highly derived grasshopper, and a member of a family which is unique to Mu. These grasshoppers have converged on walking-sticks in a number of ways, such as their small, vestigial wings and their slow-moving lifestyle. Also unlike most grasshoppers, they do not have any distinctive call or song, since the noise-making organs their ancestors possessed on their wings and legs have long since disappeared. Their exoskeletons, however, are thick and durable, so even if a predator does discover them, they will have quite a hard time biting into them. The hind legs of Dolichoacridis are no longer used for jumping, but possess sharp spikes that are very useful in self-defense. Next to Megatitan, Dolichoacridis is one of the largest insects in Mu, and possibly the world.

Fig 4: Dynamomusca accipiter
Taxonomy: Diptera, Asilidae
Habitat: Open plains and fields
Diet: Other insects, including those larger than itself
Size: Up to 5 cm long

The redoubtable robber flies-- true two-winged flies, not merely insects that have "fly" in their name, like butterflies or dragonflies--are among the most lethal predators in the insect world. Their legs are equipped with sharp, curved hooks, which are used to seize prey in flight, and pass it up towards the creature's mouth. This was not a mouth in the strictest sense, but rather a sharp sucking proboscis, which could be used to inject digestive juices into the body of an unsuspecting victim. Robber flies of various kinds populate Mu, and those of the genus Dynamomusca are the apex predators of the island continent's insect underworld.

Description
For 's "Populating Mu" project.

Fig. 1: Titanoctonus erenjaegeri
Taxonomy: Hymenoptera, Sphecidae
Habitat: The interior forests of Mu,
Diet: Adult drinks nectar, larvae feed on Megatitan and other large katydids
Size: Up to 6 cm long

This is a large, solitary hunting wasp, a member of the globally-distributed family Sphecidae. As with all members of this group, it is solitary, and females lay their eggs on a paralyzed victim that their larvae will consume when they hatch. What makes them remarkable, though, is their choice of prey. Titanoctonus preys on Megatitan, a giant flightless katydid which can grow to nearly a foot in length. Despite the katydid being almost four times the wasp's size, its sting is powerful enough to paralyze even very large specimens. Once this is done, the wasp drags its motionless victim back to its burrow, where it is buried-- along with a wasp egg-- and then sealed in with soil. The katydid remains alive but paralyzed during this process, and only dies once the mature larva begins to eat its vital organs. The larva then pupates inside its victim's remains, and overwinters as a pupa before emerging from its burrow to seek food and a mate.

Fig 2: Formicopapilio vesperus
Taxonomy: Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae
Habitat: Temperate forests, wherever symbiont ants are found
Diet: Adult feeds on nectar. Larvae are fed food scraps by Salimyrmex ants
Size: 10 cm wingspan

Formicopapilio is a direct descendant of Pleiades, a butterfly which had the unusual characteristic of being a brood parasite. Its caterpillars would mimic the pheromones of Salimyrmex ants, so the ants would feed them just as they would their own larvae. Now, however, this relationship has evolved into something more mutualistic. Like its ancestor, the caterpillars of Formicopapilio live inside ant nests, where they are fed and guarded by the ants. In this case, though, both sides give and get. The caterpillar exudes a sweet liquid from glands along the sides of its body, which the ants feed on, and in exchange for a continuous supply of this food, the ants guard and feed the caterpillar. However, this "mutual respect" only goes so far; once the caterpillar has pupated and emerged as an adult butterfly, the ants no longer recognize it, and it must escape the nest as quickly as possible without being attacked.

Fig 3: Dolichoacridis baculiforme
Taxonomy: Orthoptera, Dolichoacrididae
Habitat: Temperate forest floor
Diet: Low-growing vegetation of various kinds
Size: Up to 18 cm long

Despite appearances, Dolichoacridis is not a member of the "walking-stick" insect group. It is, in fact, a highly derived grasshopper, and a member of a family which is unique to Mu. These grasshoppers have converged on walking-sticks in a number of ways, such as their small, vestigial wings and their slow-moving lifestyle. Also unlike most grasshoppers, they do not have any distinctive call or song, since the noise-making organs their ancestors possessed on their wings and legs have long since disappeared. Their exoskeletons, however, are thick and durable, so even if a predator does discover them, they will have quite a hard time biting into them. The hind legs of Dolichoacridis are no longer used for jumping, but possess sharp spikes that are very useful in self-defense. Next to Megatitan, Dolichoacridis is one of the largest insects in Mu, and possibly the world.

Fig 4: Dynamomusca accipiter
Taxonomy: Diptera, Asilidae
Habitat: Open plains and fields
Diet: Other insects, including those larger than itself
Size: Up to 5 cm long

The redoubtable robber flies-- true two-winged flies, not merely insects that have "fly" in their name, like butterflies or dragonflies--are among the most lethal predators in the insect world. Their legs are equipped with sharp, curved hooks, which are used to seize prey in flight, and pass it up towards the creature's mouth. This was not a mouth in the strictest sense, but rather a sharp sucking proboscis, which could be used to inject digestive juices into the body of an unsuspecting victim. Robber flies of various kinds populate Mu, and those of the genus Dynamomusca are the apex predators of the island continent's insect underworld.