2025 May 17: Brightbug

 Brigthbugs are large arthropoid creatures, approximately the size of a cat. The have eight long armored legs, a large, round, fleshy abdomen, and a prominent proboscis capable of drilling through the skull of most humanoids. They get their name from the bright light they produce from their abdomen as a mating display. 

For most of their lifecycle, brightbugs are actually rather small aquatic predators that mainly eat frogs, small fish and occasionally snakes. However after their last molting they enter their adult form. In this form they try to use their luminescent abdomens to lure in animals, then leap on their faces, and use their proboscis to pierce the skull, and take control of the animal's body. They then use their newfound mobility to search for partners, before expiring a few days later. Their glow, now bright red from the blood of their victim signals to potential mates that they have successfully completed their hunt.

Due to the peculiar anatomy of their proboscis, brightbugs can only attempt to kill one creature. If they miss, they are unable to try again, and just cling hopelessly to their would-be prey's head. In this case the light coming from their abdomen remains at its usual yellowish color. Entrepreneurial adventures sometimes sell brightbugs with their probosces removed, so that they can function as a sort of head-lamp in dark environments. Although expensive, they are quite popular, as they usually last for a day or two before expiring, much longer than any torch.