Beetle

The beetle was an insect found in many places and variations in the Forgotten Realms, often in giant sizes.

Biology
Most species of beetle lacked good eyesight or hearing. Because of this, they primarily relied upon their tactile and taste senses. The latter was done by means of their antennae.

Species

 * Aratha, otherwise known as "killer beetles," were a rare species of psionic beetle that had been hunted to near-extinction.
 * Emperor beetles were an extremely rare species of giant beetle, prized for their iridescent shells.
 * Giant bombardier beetles were able to emit an acid cloud that burned enemies.
 * Giant boring beetles were large and favored eating wood.
 * Giant fire beetles were about nocturnal insects. They had two glands, one above each eye, that produced a red glow.
 * Giant rhinoceros beetles were a monstrous variety of rhinoceros beetle, typically found in tropical or subtropical jungles.
 * Giant scarab beetles, which could be up to long, were found in many locations in the Underdark.
 * Giant stag beetles were a monstrous variety of stag beetles.
 * The shrub beetle was known in Cormanthor for jumping into River Ashaba to cool off, but sinking and drowning.
 * Stink beetles could produce miasmal stench in self-defense.
 * Water beetle

Diet
In general, these creatures liable to eat almost any form of organic matter tasted by their antennae, even other species of beetle. Though each species tended to have dietary preferences.

Giant beetles ground and crushed whatever they ate with their mandibles, making it difficult to revive consumed organisms.

Habitats
Shrub beetles were found in Cormanthor. Bombardier, boring, fore, and stag beetles were typically found in midwood.

Outside of the Prime Material plane, giant beetles could be found living in the trunk of Yggdrasil the World Ash.