Zarbi The Zarbi were an insectoid species native to Vortis , who were frequently controlled by the disemboided entity Animus . Biology . The Zarbi resembled giant ant s . Some Zarbi moved on two powerful human - like legs , ( TV : " The Web Planet " ) while others , like the ones in the London Underground , moved on six legs like ants on Earth . ( COMIC : " Unnatural Selection " ) They communicated by screeching and rubbing their legs together . ( TV : " The Web Planet " ) Much like bee s , Zarbi also communicated by dancing . ( COMIC : " The Macrobe Menace " ) They were naturally simple - minded creatures , no smarter than cattle . They had no individual motives . ( TV : " The Web Planet " ) Socially , they were similar to the ants of Earth . They lived in massive nests with millions of members . There was also a similar caste system , with powerful warrior Zarbi , common workers and giant , bloated queen s . They were born as larva , which were little more than grey blobs . ( PROSE : " The Lair of Zarbi Supremo " ) History . The Zarbi were used by the Menoptera as cattle until there arose a queen which declared war against them , forcing them to flee to the moons . An advance scouting party sent to spy on the Zarbi also encountered Atlantean s and the First Doctor . When the Atlanteans escorted the Doctor back to his TARDIS , a battle between the Zarbi and the Menoptera was being waged nearby . ( PROSE : " The Lost Ones " ) The Animus arrived on Vortis and took control of Zarbi , forcing them to fight their former masters . They reverted to their original nature after the First Doctor , Ian Chesterton , Barbara Wright and Vicki defeated the Animus . ( TV : " The Web Planet " ) The Animus was able to reform and with help from another enemy of the Doctor teleported to the London Underground , where the Zarbi attacked the First Doctor , Ian , Barbara and Vicki . The Animus was defeated when Ian hit it with a train , and all of the Zarbi were teleported home . ( COMIC : " Unnatural Selection " ) The Menoptera and the Zarbi worked peacefully together for many years , until the Zarbi apparently developed flight and deadly stingers , which they used to attack Menoptera . The First Doctor , John and Gillian arrived and , investigating , discovered that the flying Zarbi were actually Zarbi - shaped vehicles piloted by Skirkon s , who had come to Vortis for its supplies of Galvinium X , and had enslaved the real Zarbi to oversee their Menopteran slaves . The Doctor and his grandchildren freed the Menoptera and defeated the Skirkons , who died when their base was destroyed . ( COMIC : " On the Web Planet " ) Many years later , the relationship between the Menoptera and the Zarbi had patched up , with both forces helping the other . However , a strange mutation led to the creation of the Zarbi Supremo , a twenty - foot tall Zarbi who took control of the other Zarbi . It was able to devise means to move Vortis , turning it into a rogue planet . Over several generations , Vortis left the Isop Galaxy and found itself near Jupiter . The Zarbi Supremo planned to take over Earth for its resources . The Menoptera had tried to deal with this , building up weaponry and infiltrating the hives , but the agents were captured or killed . At the same time , the Earth ship " Solar Queen " came to investigate the rogue planet , but when the scientists went to investigate they were also captured . They were able to send a message out , which attracted the First Doctor . With the help of Gordon Hamilton , he was able to free the scientists , who killed the Zarbi Supremo and released the Zarbi from their subjugation . With that , the scientists were returned to their ship and the Menoptera left the solar system for their own galaxy . ( PROSE : " The Lair of Zarbi Supremo " ) In the year 5 billion , the University of Rago Rago 56 Rago had a copy of " How to Speak Zarbi in 10 , 000 Steps " , but it was found to be boring and was planned to be destroyed . ( COMIC : " The Macrobe Menace " ) When the Third Doctor was attacked by the Keller Machine , he saw a Zarbi . ( TV : " The Mind of Evil " ) Iris Wildthyme was once trapped in the Death Zone and encountered Zarbi . ( PROSE : " The Scarlet Empress " , " Verdigris " ) The people of Light City had files on the Zarbi . ( AUDIO : " The Natural History of Fear " )