Giant fire beetles were nocturnal giant beetles.
Description[]
Giant fire beetles were the smallest of all the giant beetles known to scholars.[4][5] They grew to be about 2 to 2.5 feet (0.61 to 0.76 meters).[3][4]
Abilities[]
These creatures had luminous glands, situated above each eye[3][4][5] and near the abdomen,[4][5] that glowed a red color.[3][4][5] If removed, these glands would continue glowing for several days.[3][4][5] The luminosity of these glands extended outward in a radius of 10 feet (3 meters).[4][5]
Combat[]
Despite being small for giant beetles, these creatures had very powerful mandibles that could cause great injury to any human.[4][5]
History[]
In 1492 DR, a group of troglodytes within the level of Undermountain known as the Troglodyte Warrens had domesticated giant fire beetles and were raising them for food.[6] That same year the Harper agent Ulvira Snowveins was running a pet store in Skullport that offered, among other creatures, giant fire beetles for sale.[7]
Sub-Species[]
- An intelligent variation of giant fire beetles were known to inhabit the celestial planes. These were often sent in answer to a good cleric's summoning spells.[8]
Ecology[]
Diet[]
Giant fire beetles were an omnivorous species of insect[4] and could survive feeding on carrion.[9]
Habitats[]

In the Undermountain level of Arcturiadoom, the fire giant Hrossk lights his way with a lantern of fire beetles.
Giant fire beetles could be found in clusters or colonies in warmer flatlands.[3] They lived both above and below ground.[4][5] A colony of giant fire beetles was built around a giant fire beetle queen, a larger and more powerful variant of the insect.[9]
In the land of Faerûn they could be found in the King's Forest of Cormyr,[10] within Mount Hotenow,[11] and down in the Underdark.[12]
In the East they could be found in the Hordelands and Semphar.[13] In east Zakhara, they could be found in the Grey Jungle.[14] And in the Crowded Sea south of Zakhara, they could be found on the island chain of Nada al-Hazan.[15]
Beyond the Prime Material plane, some were known to inhabit the Elemental Plane of Fire.[16]
Relationships[]
Fire beetles were a favored animal of the deity Moradin and thus would serve him, sometime acting as messengers to his followers.[17]
Summoning[]
A celestial giant fire beetle could be summoned by the summon monster I spell, while three could be called with Summon monster II.[18]
Before Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR the best-known version of the summon monster I spell called a single ordinary giant fire beetle.[19]
Usages[]
The luminous glands of the giant fire beetle were prized by adventurers and miners alike.[4][5][3]
Some were known to use their glands as an alternative material component to the spell dancing lights.[20] Their blood was also a material component for the spell infra-invisible.[21]
The inhabitants of Skullport sometimes sought out the larvae of fire beetles to use as a source of illumination.[22]
Notable Fire Beetles[]
- Phredd, a fire beetle that lived within Marigold's Menagerie.[23]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Comics
Video Games
Board Games
Miniatures
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Reference[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 325. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 285. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 308. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 285. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.
- ↑ Random encounters table included in Ed Greenwood (1989). Waterdeep (adventure). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-88038-757-2.
- ↑ Matt Sernett, Erik Scott de Bie, Ari Marmell (August 2011). Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Edited by Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 135. ISBN 0-7869-5814-6.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Mike Mearls (November 2017). Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Edited by Kim Mohan, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7869-6612-7.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume II”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), pp. 114, 117. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ Steve Kurtz (1994). Al-Qadim: Cities of Bone: Campaign Guide. (TSR, Inc), p. 16. ISBN 1-56076-847.
- ↑ David Cook (October 1992). “Nada al-Hazan”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Golden Voyages (TSR, Inc.), p. 2. ISBN 978-1560763314.
- ↑ Monte Cook and William W. Connors (December 7, 1998). The Inner Planes. Edited by Michele Carter and Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 44. ISBN 0-7869-0736-3.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 78. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 285–287. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 151. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ Vince Garcia (July 1989). “Variety, the Spice of Magic”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #147 (TSR, Inc.), p. 24.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ Joseph C. Wolf (1999). Skullport. (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-1348-7.
- ↑ Nicky Rea (July 1994). “The Living City: The Hand of Mercy and Marigold's Menagerie”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #97 (TSR, Inc.), p. 12.