Insecta

1. Hispine beetle (Chrysomelidae) 2. Fly (Diptera) 3. Gracillarid moth (Gracillaridae) 4. Hemiphlebiid damselfly (Hemiphlebiidae)

## Biology

### Wingspan

N/A

"*Bone Butte has the best record of insects in the formation via inclusions in amber. From these, we see dipteran and nematoceran flies. The wing of an ancient greenling (Hemiphlebiidae) is also preserved.*"

―*Saurian: A Field Guide to Hell Creek*

**Insects** are a group of superbly abundant invertebrates, and its the group of animals that has one of the most described number of species today. They are found almost everywhere on land, air, freshwater and soil. These were the first animals to develop wings and fly, and their unique survival tactics made them the most incredible creatures that colonized the land-dwelling environment. In the Hell Creek formation, a good variety of insects is known to have existed.

## In *Saurian*

Insects are not known to be planned for inclusion in the game, likely due to their diminute size. Ambient sounds, however, suggest their presence in the game, but they cannot be physically seen. They are present, however, in the official game's artbook.

### **Hispine beetle (Chrysomelidae)**

The chrysomelids, also known as hispine beetles, or just leaf beetles, are a family of beetles that includes over 37 000 described species (numbers of which might be pushed to 50 000 species in total, if new species are discovered). Adult and larvae of these feed on all sorts of plant tissue, being fully herbivorous insects.

### **Fly (Diptera)**

Flies belong to the order Diptera and, like the name suggests, they are characterized by having just one pair of functional wings that are used to fly extensively through the air, in most species. Typical flies have a good sense of smell and sight that allows them to detect danger and fly at high speeds to find precious food. They are often equipped with elongated mouthparts to suck food. Their lack of strong jaws gives them an exclusive preference for liquified food, negleting most solid food, therefore prefering to release juices that turn the food into a more liquified and easier to digest compound. Flies are attracted to plant juices and sap, as well as rotten flesh. Their feet are filled with claws and pads that make landing in a smooth surface much more easier. Flies have become a fundamental part of the environment they live now, as they are part of some of the basis of the food chain, being eaten by larger insects and other flying aerial insectivores, such as avialans. They also play an important part in decomposing dead organism tissue. In the swamp nature of the Hell Creek formation, the environment for flies to prosper was already set.

### **Gracillarid moth (Gracillaridae)**

Gracillarid moths are a family of moths known from the leaf miner group of moths. In the modern days, these moths are known as pests, as they bore through the plant material to feed. They are currently found in all continents, except Antarctica. The adults are very small, with a wingspan of around 5-20 mm. They are special leaf miners as caterpillars, whose mouthparts are specifically specialized for feeding on sap. Young larvae feed on sap, but as they get older larvae, they get more cylindrical and develop normal chewing mouthparts to feed on tougher plant tissue within the leaf mines, and have a fully functional silk-producing organ, the "spinneret".

### **Hemiphlebiid damselfly (Hemiphlebiidae)**

Hemiphlebiid damselflies are the damsleflies that belong to the Hemiphlebiidae family, only known from one extant species, the ancient greenling from southern Australia. It is very small with a long, metallic-green body and clear wings.