I may have gotten excited about Valentino as a moth variant of my bugs, and now I might color shift him into an OC cuz he looks FINE
Which is also especially morbid if I keep him as a villain/antagonist as his variant (Viispaa Curantis Avalon) are seen as protective, safe and positive. The fact he could lure in people seeking aid just because of what he is makes an amazing “wolf in sheep’s clothing” tale of warning.
But now I gotta figure out if I want him more blue, more purple, or if I should do something else..
Humans have often launched animals into space to examine the effects of vacuum and zero gravity on the eggs and organs of various species, and along those lines, in 2032, a satellite (named DSREB-1112* or “The Enterprise”) containing various species of insect and other samples ranging from egg to tissue to preserved specimens was launched, intended to loop around the moon, then the sun, and back before being studied. However, the propulsion system malfunctioned and misfired, sending the probe into deep space, unable to return; it was deemed a loss and NASA moved on, forgetting it for some time.
*Deep Space Radiation Effects on Biological specimens
Unbeknownst to them, an advanced race of beings known as the Kuana came across the pod when it exited the solar system. They took a fascination with the objects inside and returned to their corner of the galaxy where they began to work on the samples, breaking down the genomes and studying the life present on the curious little rock they'd been monitoring since the planet unfroze itself [thousands of years ago by earth time]. Among the samples, they were very fond of the angry, flying needles and determined them to be worthy of the status as a core genome sample.
Wasps became the majority focus of the gene manipulation and they incorporated aspects of their own DNA, as well as pieces from other samples that were on the satellite, and even certain amounts of bio-enhanced technology to create a sapient race of wasp beings to serve as companions, soldiers and living weapons. Human mental evolution fascinated the Kuana, and with the organ tissues of humans being present from which to derive the genome they sought, they made sure to give their wasp beings most of the emotional capacity found within humans, allowing them rational thought, free will and expression, wrapped in a roughly humanoid shape that would seem familiar. From them, the Kuana gave them advanced light sensitivity and organelles within their eyes that would indicate mood and status with colors, even those in ultraviolet and infrared spectrums that humans cannot detect on their own. Finishing their project off, they enhanced some of the natural aspects of wasps themselves by lacing carbon into their chitin to enhance its strength, giving them advanced mental processes for being able to quickly assess stimuli, boosting their immunity and antibodies to make them disease and toxin resistant, and equipping them with rechargeable stingers in their abdomens.
Biology
Viispaas stand roughly anywhere between 6’7” to 10’3” at full height when standing (add about 6-9” if their legs are stretched to full) and are predominantly male (60% male, 40% female). They have 6 limbs and 2 sets of wings: one set of proper arms with hands tipped with two fingers and a thumb, a vestigial set of arms that are weaker but just as functional, and digitigrade legs tipped with two claw-like toes which are sensitive to vibration and chemical traces. Their wings are able to vibrate fast enough to displace air like a rotor and lift them off the ground, however their flight performance is affected by air density; on earth, most Viispaa can fly above most buildings, ranging from 2-4 stories off the ground, but above 6 stories they expend more energy than is deemed worth the result, as falling from that height from exhaustion can cause injuries.
Female Viispaa rarely pass 8’7”, are thinly built and deemed “speedsters”, equipped with long stingers for swift actions. Male Viispaa are rarely under 7’8”, are broadly built and deemed “tanks”, equipped with smaller stingers but are capable of moving forces up to 5x their mass and can deadlift things 3x heavier than what most humans can generally accomplish. Most Viispaa can live between 90 and 110 years old, close to that of humans.
Both sexes have genitalia reminiscent of humans respective to their biological sex and reproduce in a manner familiar to humans as far as positions are concerned, however Viispaa cannot readily reproduce with humans. Male Viispaa produce soft, fertilized egg-like pods about the size of a goose egg they can insert into a female Viispaa where her muscles carefully tuck the pods into a womb-like part of her abdomen; the pods attach and the second half of the genes are introduced, fertilizing the pods and turning them into proper eggs. The embryos develop in the safety pods for about a month before the female seeks out a safe area to lay her clutch, producing anywhere from 5-15 fist-sized eggs which are expelled through a cloaca near her stinger. Over the course of a month, the eggs hatch into larva and then metamorphose into young Viispaa with features like human preteens. They reach adult size within a year.
When not having sex for breeding, males can release a semen-like fluid at climax instead of insert fertile pods, and females experience pleasure much like human females do. Viispaa male genitals have unique muscles that allow them to adjust within their partner and some more experienced lovers can simulate friction through penile muscles alone, without thrusting or grinding, which works well when paired with a smaller partner.
Humans and Viispaa can have sex with each other, but those unions will be sterile without intervention from Kuana genome technology.
Viispaa bodies are insectoid in appearance with milky blood-like fluid that starts mostly clear in the body and becomes opaque when exposed to air; their muscle tissues are reminiscent of cables and the matte black “skin” on parts of their bodies is rough, not unlike a coarse fabric mesh. While generally very tough creatures, Viispaa skin can still tear and the Kuana developed this mesh-like growth to facilitate quick repairs that stitch together easily. The chitin parts of the Viispaa body appear like polished metal or plastic but are also formed from a kind of pseudo-solid fiber not unlike a non-newtonian liquid developed specifically by the Kuana which is flexible and pleasing to the touch but extremely resistant to impact damage, though generally fairs better against high velocity, small surface area projectiles and angled blades over broad-coverage blunt force. Naturally reinforced with carbon fibers for durability, Viispaa chitin doesn’t restrict their movements or range of motion and protects most of their vulnerable areas from everything short of a long fall or being hit by a semi truck.
This soft armor feature is why Viispaa can create facial expressions without excessive plates.
Viispaa eyes are large and compound and have a visible spectrum that touches both infrared and ultraviolet hues humans cannot see but which they use to communicate with each other at a distance. The Kuana have similar faculties, which is where they derived the trait from, as they communicate in light and color more than sound, thus by watching the colors of the Viispaa’s eyes, they were able to determine their status. Hiding their emotions is difficult, as the color change is prompted by hormones and other chemicals from the brain, thus any change in mood can alter the visible hue of the lens, even if it’s only slightly. The colors appear solid and sparkle as light reflects off of the facets, but when changing it happens rapidly; using slow motion, one can see how individual facets of the eye lens act like pixels, changing color individually and starting at the outside edge before moving inward in a rough spiral, making the transition appear as a swirl in a majority of specimens though bursts (inside to outside) and fades (inner to outer or outer to inner sweeps) have been found as well. Complex feelings can produce interesting chromatic palettes such as gradients, flowing color rotations, and other things but these are usually accompanied by outbursts from the Viispaa due to distress.
UV and IR light patterns are activated by specific modified color changers in the eye lens that add specific layers to their emotional hue; UV flashes can be detected at range and used to communicate messages in a way similar to morse code (Viispaa on earth actually learn morse code to be able to click and blink in a way that can be decoded by human companions) while IR readings only appear in response to high stress and physical damage; IR signatures are uncommon on Viispaa due to their naturally low body temperatures with most hot spots on the body being a result of sunlight and black patterns. The eye lenses showing fields of intense IR activity are a sign the Viispaa has been injured or is in need of immediate assistance, even if they can’t communicate directly otherwise.
Viispaa have eyelids, however not for blinking; the translucent lid is used for high speed flight, rain and closed for sleeping because they cut out light signatures coming in and out so they aren’t distracted but can still see somewhat if they’re awake. It’s the only method of hiding their light signatures but is suspicious on its own so not really effective for that purpose.
Viispaa stingers are mostly retracted into their abdomens with males only leaving the tip exposed while females tend to have several centimeters visible at all times; when needed, Viispaa can contract muscles to unsheathe their stingers fully, which are black, curved and occasionally have rear-facing barbs to make removal much harder if they’re left in the target. A male’s stinger is generally 1-1.5 inches per foot in height while females can be twice to three times as long and are coated in a fluid that numbs the flesh around the stinger so it doesn’t cause pain if it’s ripped out during attack, but also can numb the wound of the target, making the sting undetectable for a certain period and thus likely to cause blood loss or worse injury. Unlike common bees, Viispaa will not die from losing their stingers; they rarely lose them unless they are at full draw when used, allowing them to use their stingers rather indefinitely unless they break off. At this point, there is another stinger stored within the abdomen that slides into place within an hour; at any time, a Viispaa has three stingers, one at the ready and two on standby, and they naturally replenish used stingers within about a month. During that time, they tend to crave things rich in iron, carbon and calcium.
As for diets, Viispaa primarily ingest things rich in sugar and simple carbs, and can also consume roots, vegetables and fruits; they enjoy refined sugars in low amounts but avoid meat-based proteins and other things unless they have cravings, such as healing or recharging. Eggs, dairy and other animal byproducts are only as needed, but Viispaa generally will not eat meat of any kind; they also fair well with salt and sugar licks, as the Kuana often provided enriched mineral supplies to ensure they got what they needed while subsisting off of sugar water and nectar for energy. Breeding periods are often punctuated with increased cravings for minerals and vegetables to help the developing embryos while most of the fluid in the egg pods is sugar-based.
Viispaa have jaws and cheeks with tooth-like plates for consuming solid food, but many opt for juices or other liquids just for sheer ease of ingestion and quick intake into their bodies. The mandibles on their faces are for communication primarily, making clicks and hums they communicate in naturally and also helping in the event of eating solid foods. While they generally hum, buzz and click, they are capable of vocal speech dependent on their environment; high engagement and active teaching produce more eloquent Viispaa, as they’re easily distracted and unlikely to pick up on the nuances of language on their own save for key and common phrases. Females tend to develop speech faster than males but males are better at recognizing body language and expressions.
Uniquely, Viispaa have regenerative abilities as well; as long as they aren’t killed outright, have a steady supply of food, and rest, they can recover from most injuries. Cuts and piercing damage close within hours, broken plates and larger injuries can heal within a month, and while they cannot reattach lost limbs, a removed wing or body part will reform fully in about 6 months depending on resources.
Genome Inclusions
Vespula vulgaris, the common wasp; base genome derived from preserved specimens and eggs stored onboard the satellite
Apis mellifera scutellata, the East African Lowland Honey Bee; behavioral patterns were adapted from studying specimens cloned from preserved subjects, prompting the Kuana to change the lethal nature of bee toxin into a numbing agent in order to preserve the aspects of community and group behavior they found useful for their project; some varieties of Viispaa have recessive aggression and mobbing behavior from strong scutellata genes, however they are rare and typically not sent to make landfall unless the location is hostile
Camponotus consobrinus, the Banded Sugar Ant; a social insect to reinforce their sense of community, ability to work together with a purpose, preference for sweets and sugary substances for food, and the foundation of their strength
Anax strennus, the Giant Hawaian Darner; a member of the largest, fastest group of insects, these egg samples were used to derive the wing blueprint for the Viispaa and allows them to fly in all directions, hover, and reach speeds faster than most land vehicles
Homo sapiens, human beings; organ tissue from donated bodies including a liver, stomach and skin grafts, and blood, heart and brain samples from both a male and female cadaver (recently deceased) sent to study the effects of close exposure to the sun provided sequences for regenerating tissue, the extent of the human immune system, and initiated the fascination with human mental evolution; the human genome is the second blueprint used alongside vespula vulgaris to create the base of the Viispaa
Ambystoma mexicanum, the axolotl; preserved whole and partial specimens which were curiosities to the Kuana but ultimately provided the enhanced regeneration genes that allow the Viispaa to regrow limbs and heal from damage; axolotls are also popular pets for the Kuana because of their silly, simple natures
Externus adstrum sapiens lovecraft, the Latinized name for the Kuana; named for their Eldritch appearance and advanced, almost mystical technology evoking a sense of fascination and fear akin to Lovecraft’s tales, the Kuana are peaceful beings and masters of merging technology with biological components; they derived the light sensitivity, skin-respiration and color-changing eyes from their own genetic sequence, as well as a predisposition for friendly relations and curiosity to override the xenophobic and territorial behaviors found in both the insect and human specimens and orbital observations made over the course of human history
Most other features are created through artificial means (Kuana bio-tech) and other trace sequences taken from other species can be found but they are minimal, usually acting as catalysts or binders to ensure the genome is stable
The project I'm MOST proud of so far though is Astar City, and that extended universe. Currently I'm trying my hand at a scientifically minded spec-bio project for one of the aliens featured there, the Aska'a Thani, but I don't have any details yet.
Instead, I'm going to gush about my bugs ♥️
The Viispaa species were made artificially by the Kuana as a means of interacting with humans early on; they have traits primarily taken from wasps and bees with human, Kuana and some other DNA snippets thrown in to make them intelligent and emotional, sentient creatures.
Viispaa Primes are the default, original variant, standing between 5-8 feet tall with heavy gender dimorphism and moderate coloration that sticks to the yellow and black scheme of most bees. In recent years, newer generations have gotten more colorful with new pigments being added in.
From this mold are many variations, some of which haven't been fully figured out yet. Above are the current examples of the standard: Vaivron (left) and Zivv (right), who are due to get a redesign to simplify their patterns a bit.
From them is a specific mutation only referred to as a "hornet".
Hornets are easy to spot because of their sharper features and reddish-brown or black-blue coloration and are, well...
Angry lil bastards. The aggression that was dormant in the Primes becomes much more prominent in the Inimicus mutations, making them unpredictable; many of them are required therapy and stimulation to provide safe outlets for their anger, and often end up in labor jobs or in the military to help curb that behavior in a useful way.
They are not mindless, always raging beasts though, and tend to dislike that label. Many are fully aware of their triggers and how they feel and behave when set off, they don't always lose themselves to the anger, it's simply how they are and they take measures to control themselves. Usually.
Some are just assholes and want to get away with it because it's "how they are".
After them are the Puer.
Puer are the honeybee drones of the Viispaa species, majority of them being small, child-looking, genderless individuals who exist as safe companions to actual children. Called "nanny bugs", Puer drones are stingless and extremely hardy, meant to play with children and be able to go with them where they want to be when parents can't or won't follow. They come in an array of colors that make them popular and easy to spot amongst kids and parents alike, making it easy to find them in crowds and for little ones to identify their "safe bug".
While made for children, Puer are intelligent and can reason like adults in order to explain things as needed when kids can't communicate well, but often come off as childish themselves as they naturally know how to age regress to match the demographic they're part of.
Being genderless though, and sexless, Puer have to be bred from a Queen, much like a beehive.
Queens are called Zinnias and have a chance of morphing from a clutch of eggs at a rate of roughly 1:1,000. They can breed with any standard male wasp (including hornets) and are integral in the care of Puer drones, as well as being social safe zones. Zinnias are well protected and often sought for safety by children and young women, as where there is a Zinnia, there's likely one male wasp eager to protect her.
They can be spoiled rotten as well, as Zinnias with favorable color genes tend to be better off than regular ones.
After them are the Curantis, the fluffiest of the Viispaa.
Being the first to fully deviate from the wasp body plan, Curantis were developed for a handful of reasons but mostly as not only an inverse of the Zinnia variant, but also as caretakers for non-children. With inherently friendly, positive dispositions, Curantis's ended up gravitating to mostly customer service and retail spaces, as they enjoy helping and chatting with others.
Astar City's customer service scene is very mindful of the well-being of the Curantis and thus customers don't get away with nearly as much nonsense as they do elsewhere, though you wouldn't catch a moth mouthing off to someone for no reason. Except the males.
Avalons are similar safety beacons to Zinnias and very easy to spot with their wings, but tend to be more crass and direct, as they're very protective by nature and dislike their wards being picked on by others.
Stay tuned for more bugs! There's quite a few variants left to go, including the Artifex (ants), a few military grade versions, and some spoopy Bois meant to do the dirty work :)
Tried a room scene with Zivv with varying amounts of success. I want to fix the lighting of her living room but these backdrops are so involved it's intimidating...
Turned out better than the first one though, I don't like the set up at all or that the dress blends in so much
Vaivron on the other hand, is very photogenic. Despite Zivv having the much more involved backstory and narrative, Vai is probably my favorite because he's fun to draw and is just a dude living his best life.
Himbos are simple things.
I'm fond of this image as it really helped me figure out my preferred coloring style, even though it doesn't work well on a small scale for things like charms and prints... At least I think so. The green shines really make it pop imo.
Also, he isn't great at English and needs that ear piece to translate himself. He understands English just fine, it's speaking where his natural accent comes through which is mostly unintelligible buzzing.
Grayscale is probably my favorite thing to do tho, it's so much easier and faster, and looks so nice 👌😩
Just a Zinnia doing her due diligence and helping a lost child. She may be old (seen by her lack of a giant abdomen) but she still has maternal instincts.
