Bugsnax (History and Biology)

*If you're looking for the list of Bugsnax, click here!*

This article contains spoilers.

## General

Bugsnax are described by the expedition team (Lizbert, Filbo, The Journalist) as "kinda bug and kinda snak", but are neither. Bugsnax are not befitting the biological definition of animals or plants; they lack organs, seeds, or reproductive systems.

Bugsnax may taste like the food they resemble but are not this said food, which is especially apparent with any Bugsnax like Ribblepede that have seemingly inedible parts. They are made of a substance called Snakmatter and merely mimic the appearance and taste of foods. Any bones, metal, or glass is perfectly edible, and even soft. Bugsnax also contain a liquid known as Snakwater, which can be extracted by Grapeskeetos. Regardless of their form, Bugsnax must be eaten raw as cooking them will turn them into mush.

Bugsnax exhibit a variety of shapes, behaviorism, and flavors, but as Floofty discovers through the Snaxperimental process, any Bugsnak can transform into another at will, and they are all the very same species simply taking different forms. Since they are all the same, if one is allergic to one Bugsnak, as the Journalist is, they will be allergic to all.

Consistent across all Bugsnax is their googly- (seemingly tacked on) eyes that rattle around upon movement, although seem to focus ever so often. Most Bugsnax have two eyes, though Fryders, Pineantula, and Daddy Cakelegs have four, and Minimaki has one. These eyes seem to be different in composition compared to the Snax themselves, and perhaps less degradable, as they can be found in an old treasure chest in Boiling Bay. Shelda's necklace includes some eyes with gray pupils, suggesting they degraded somewhat over time. Floofty's lab includes some "fresh" looking eyes, which they may have forcibly removed from Bugsnax. When a Bugsnak is killed, its main body splatters, but its eyes remain intact.

## History

Bugsnax have existed on Snaktooth Island for at least thousands of years, coexisting with ancient Grumpuses that inhabited the island. These groups included the Stone Grumps of Flavor Falls and Garden Grove, as well as the Desert Grumps of Scorched Gorge and Sizzlin' Sands.

Bugsnax seem to have been an important food source and hunting event to these civilizations. The Stone Grumps chiselled statues depicting Strabby and Pinkle, and cave paintings show groups of Grumpuses hunting and defeating Mama Mewon.
The Desert Grumps created similar cave painting with the depiction of the hunt on Mothza Supreme and the presence of enormous ancient pizza cutters show their method of hunting Mothza Supreme. They also carved similar styled statues of Incherrito and Scorpepper. The desert civilizations fought Bugsnax in hand-to-hand combat as well, which they taught to one another using the "Dance of Certain Death", as Triffany discovers.

While Bugsnax were their livelihood, they were also their downfall, as is the case with any animals attempting to live on Snaktooth. There are no remains the Stone Grumps anywhere on the island, implying either that they all succumbed completely to Bugsnax or they simply had no drought to fossilize. **Quotation Needed:**(*The Desert Grumps seem to have been aware of the dangers of Bugsnax, as some skeletons appear to be chewed upon, and others have non-Bugsnak matter fossilized within. It seems they resorted to cannibalism in a desperate attempt to eat something other than Bugsnax.*)

Bugsnax themselves seem to have not changed at all over all these years. Even in ancient times, Snax like Pinkle, resembling modern pickle jars, existed in their current form. It is not known whether the Bugsnax or the foods they resemble came first in this world. Floofty theorizes that Bugsnax may grow larger with age, but this is likely untrue, as the Legendary Bugsnax rebirth, initially and argueable repeatedly slain by the ancient Grumpuses.

### Symbiosis

Bugsnax are "parasites", according to Lizbert. Her theory is that, once consumed, they alter the brain of their host by exploiting and amplifying their issue, causing the host to seek out Bugsnax as a solution to their issue and transform further upon consumption.

This description seems to only apply to a portion to the expedition team and is still somewhat vague in intent - as Floofty's research to Bugsnax is not enhanced by the Bugsnax.
Gramble has not eaten Bugsnax and only suspects he is eating them after being optionally forcibly fed in his sleep. Shelda is actively fighting the call of the Bugsnax by chanting in her sleep and it is implied she already has tasted them at this point.

When one is about to succumb to Bugsnax, their minds are in a state of delusion and do not seem to be aware of their surroundings. Once a host has eaten a certain amount of Bugsnax after being entirely transformed by them, their body will collapse into Snaxmatter.

Bugsnax originate from The Undersnax, a vast location comprised entirely of Snakmatter, found at the core of Snaktooth Island. Lizbert states the whole island would be a giant hill of Bugsnax. It is unknown exactly how they form, but once complete, they emerge from the sediment on the surface, appearing "gooey" at first.

### Behaviorism

The behavior of Bugsnax varies across each "subspecies". Some fear Grumpuses, some are aggressive/playful toward them, and others are unbothered. They are capable of displaying emotion indicated by their sound and emoji text balloon. Some Bugsnax love specific sauces, which they will track down and "slurp" up despite their general lack of mouthparts. Other Bugsnax hate specific (or all) sauces, and attempt to "attack" them. Even when a Grumpus is not nearby, Bugsnax interact with one another, with some Snax fearing others that may attack or investigate them.

Bugsnax can be somewhat intelligent, and are able to be trained to do simple tasks. The most obvious example is Sprout, who is trained to follow a laser pointer. Some large Bugsnax that act as a unit can be split into multiple smaller ones, though the exact mechanisms of this process are unknown, as is whether they can reform after being broken apart. Gramble wonders about this, specifically about if these Bugsnax would be smarter and more receptive to training.

Lizbert says that the Bugsnax have been "ravenous" and "in a frenzy" since the Grumpuses arrived on Snaktooth, the rumblings of the Undersnax shifting the island's geography. During the Final Battle, hostile Bugsnax begin to emerge on the surface, all with the same goal of forcing nearby Grumpuses to consume them. Notably, Sprout, as well as two of Gramble's Kweebles, do not become hostile, and are even used to fight off the attacking Snax.

## References & Notes

1. ↑ The Legendaries summoning from the statues are gameplay related and their presence in the great escape is simple due to the side quests and their encounter being optional.