Bee-Men

Crudely termed “bee-men” by human colonists they are neither bees, insects, or men. They are tall, humanoid in limbs and insectoid in the trunk and head. Their lean frames sport wings that allow them to fly for hours at a time. Their heads have eight bead eyes and mandibles. Their bodies are covered in a soft down, much like bees. The down color greatly varies by region. Their ‘hands’ are three fingered with two black taloned fingers facing a third ‘thumb.’ Their carapace is resistant to being punctured so their weapons have traditionally been some form a war hammer. The hammer is used to crush and peel apart their natural armor at weak points.

Reproduction

The placeholders reproduce by laying eggs which are fertilized. All of them produce eggs and fertilize the eggs. Newborn larvae are nurtured as a village. To this end the village collectively fertilizes the eggs in a main chamber dedicated to storing and protecting them. The fertilization process has been described through human translators as an equivalent to sneezing. Pleasantly satisfying, unavoidable, and routine. Misconceptions of them having anything that could be considered an analogue to human sexuality are common but ignorant.

Behavior

Hives are based on pheromones which are themselves based on many factors. These are poorly understood by humans and perhaps by the Bee-Men themselves. Based on observations of humans and cultural spread several things have been discerned. The pheromones seem to be influenced by the members themselves, the regions pollen and soil composition, and diet. The pheromones of hives are ever changing but gradually, nearly unnoticed. The effect is most strongly observed when a hive member travels a great distance or alone. A hive member cannot bear the smell of another hive. Because of their acute sense of smell they inhabit large domains that give plenty of room between their homes. Their maps of the world are of wind currents overlain with edible bird migrations, pollen distribution, aphid hives, inhabited giant trees, and wind currents for travel.

These maps are symbolic and carved onto the main giant tree of the tribe. The flowing curves of the map is also an artistic expression. The same giant ring of maps is carved again and again by generations of them in various forms with updates as time passes. Some bees will travel to other tribes to trade. Trade is rare but not uncommon. If a tribe is nearly wiped out the surviving members will submit and in a ritual, be inducted into the tribes pheromones. Diplomacy is rare but they follow an ancient accord of rules written by a hero of legend. The flower wars focus on prestige, honor, and resources.