Death Beetle

Death beetles are the common name of a species of beetle native to the Shadow Plane. Normally jet-black with iridescent streaks of crimson, they tend to travel in swarms, and have unusual forked probosci.

Habitat
While native to the Shadow Plane, where they can be found under most rocks, death beetles are also seen rarely on the Material Plane. They tend to live in caves and other underground habitats when they cross the barrier into the Material, and are frequently seen in the company of unintelligent undead.

Physiology
The death beetle's hard shell protects a set of translucent wings that let the beetle fly short distances. However, the most striking aspect of a death beetle's anatomy is its unusual par of probosci that extend out from under the mandibles. Once the beetle has incapacitated its prey with a potent poison produced in a pair of venom glands, the beetle extends both of its tongues, which then fan out and drill into the hapless victim. In this way, a team of death beetles can skeletonize a horse in under a minute.

Death beetles have been known to grow as large as one foot long.