Anti-Tank Locust

Also called Guncrawler Hunting Bug, Forest-killing-swarm, Heater-bugs, Peat-bugs, and Bog-Jumpers, this insect tends to live near forests and peat bogs. When their numbers grow sufficiently the excess population will cover itself in peat and swarm, seeking out heat sources and incinerating themselves.


Anti-tank locusts are small flying insects that are opportunistic carnivores but typically eat plants. They are known for their swarming behavior when their numbers in an area reach an excessive amount. While they sometimes will simply swarm like locusts and eat everything around, normally they will coat themselves in peat from a nearby bog first and then seek out heat sources.

This results in the insects gathering on other animals, their collective heat smothering them to death so they can be eaten. When Guncrawlers or other machinery is around they are typically drawn to the heat of the engine first and smother the exhaust and radiator systems. This in turn eventually ignites the peat and blood mixture of the insects which acts like a natural napalm. This often leads to the loss of the Guncrawler, thus the name.

The bugs can also be attracted to other natural sources of heat like fires, lightning strikes, or smouldering trees. The extensive fires that the swarm sets clear undergrowth.