Giant Iridescent Beetle

Giant Iridescent Beetle
The Giant Iridescent Beetle is a magnificent and vital creature inhabiting the sunlit canopy of The Shrouded Boughs. These beetles, often measuring ten feet in length, are easily identified by their thick, shimmering carapaces that shift through every color of the rainbow when hit by sunlight. They are naturally docile and highly intelligent for insects, making them the perfect mounts for the Briar-Kin of The Crown City of Ardor.
In the wild, these beetles feed on the thick resin of the Mother-Tree and the giant leaves of the upper canopy. They are social creatures, often found in small groups called "Shimmers" perched on the highest branches.
Secret Motivation: The beetles are instinctively drawn to sources of pure Aether. They often act as natural "divining rods" for the Acorn Guard, leading them to hidden caches of aetheric energy or identifying where the forest's magical barrier is strongest.
Adventure Hook: A prize breeding-beetle from The Golden Hive has been infected by a parasitic fungus. The beetle has gone "feral" and escaped into the outer canopy. The party is hired to track the creature and cure its infection before it causes havoc in the watch towers.