Difference between revisions of "Vorkosigan Vampire Bugs"
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One of the main problems than [[Oscar Vykos]] faced after settling in [[Luna]] was finding enough meat to feed his "puppy", also known as Tristan, the three hundred pounds Hellhound. After a couple of tries in desiging an artificial vat, he only managed minor succeses, changing soy into a meat analoge, too 'wave contaminated for use by non-biomods. He eventually moved into biomoding animals, creating the genetics department of [[Genesis C&D]] in late 2008. | One of the main problems than [[Oscar Vykos]] faced after settling in [[Luna]] was finding enough meat to feed his "puppy", also known as Tristan, the three hundred pounds Hellhound. After a couple of tries in desiging an artificial vat, he only managed minor succeses, changing soy into a meat analoge, too 'wave contaminated for use by non-biomods. He eventually moved into biomoding animals, creating the genetics department of [[Genesis C&D]] in late 2008. | ||
| − | The Vorkosigan Vampire Bugs were his first success, a few | + | |
| + | The Vorkosigan Vampire Bugs were his first success, a few months later. Named after the Vorkosigan Bugs from Lois McMaster Bujold's books, those animals eat vegetable matter and turn it into an edible paste. | ||
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The Bugs come in two varieties, flying and land -each being evolved from bees or termites. They give different products, Lunar Honey and Blood Tofu, but have similar biologies and needs. | The Bugs come in two varieties, flying and land -each being evolved from bees or termites. They give different products, Lunar Honey and Blood Tofu, but have similar biologies and needs. | ||
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Vampire Termites are a deep black, and range from half an inch to an inch long. Their appeareance is closer to cockoaches than termites, and they have a small red marking, similar to a flame, in their backs. They also have two ivory white pincers in their mouth. | Vampire Termites are a deep black, and range from half an inch to an inch long. Their appeareance is closer to cockoaches than termites, and they have a small red marking, similar to a flame, in their backs. They also have two ivory white pincers in their mouth. | ||
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Vampire Bees have a similar shape as bees, but they are twice the size and their matkings are read and black. They also have a red flame in their backs, and their stinger is proportionally twice as bg as it should be. | Vampire Bees have a similar shape as bees, but they are twice the size and their matkings are read and black. They also have a red flame in their backs, and their stinger is proportionally twice as bg as it should be. | ||
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Both vampire bees and vampire termites are hive insects. Adults feed on vegetable matter, but larvae need to eat a mixture of blood and either lunar honey or blood tofu (there is a special insect caste, nurses, that only creates this mixture). That means than they need a source of blood when they have larvae growing -as they are farm animals, this is animal blood in feeding vats. | Both vampire bees and vampire termites are hive insects. Adults feed on vegetable matter, but larvae need to eat a mixture of blood and either lunar honey or blood tofu (there is a special insect caste, nurses, that only creates this mixture). That means than they need a source of blood when they have larvae growing -as they are farm animals, this is animal blood in feeding vats. | ||
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Queens, in the same way as bees, are born as common worker bugs. If they are fed the common paste, they will grow as workers; larvae than get royal jelly will turn into queens. This Royal Jelly is created by adding green handwavium to the nursing paste. This is always done artificially; since Vampire Bug farms are usually built in closed environments, no queen has yet fled to live on the wild. It is unknown if such a wild swarm would be able make Royal Jelly and raise a new queen to succeed the old one. | Queens, in the same way as bees, are born as common worker bugs. If they are fed the common paste, they will grow as workers; larvae than get royal jelly will turn into queens. This Royal Jelly is created by adding green handwavium to the nursing paste. This is always done artificially; since Vampire Bug farms are usually built in closed environments, no queen has yet fled to live on the wild. It is unknown if such a wild swarm would be able make Royal Jelly and raise a new queen to succeed the old one. | ||
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A worker, warrior of nurse bug will live two years, while a queen will live form five to seven years. | A worker, warrior of nurse bug will live two years, while a queen will live form five to seven years. | ||
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Vampire termites produce several varieties of blood tofu, depending on the animal's feeding. This paste is similar in looks and texture to tofu, though a blood red colour -hence the name. | Vampire termites produce several varieties of blood tofu, depending on the animal's feeding. This paste is similar in looks and texture to tofu, though a blood red colour -hence the name. | ||
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While the termites will make tofu from any vegetable, including discarded peels, grass or leaves, the nutritional value is not the same: Proper meat substitutes need a 50% of highly proteinic foods, like tofu, wheat gluten or legumes. | While the termites will make tofu from any vegetable, including discarded peels, grass or leaves, the nutritional value is not the same: Proper meat substitutes need a 50% of highly proteinic foods, like tofu, wheat gluten or legumes. | ||
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Taste will change slightly with the vegetal used, but that usually is not noticeable because raw blood tofu, while edible, is seldom used. It is treated with a variety of additives and flavoring, so it tastes, and looks, like pork, beef or chicken. | Taste will change slightly with the vegetal used, but that usually is not noticeable because raw blood tofu, while edible, is seldom used. It is treated with a variety of additives and flavoring, so it tastes, and looks, like pork, beef or chicken. | ||
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There is a small, but growing, group of chefs and gourmets than enjoy the taste of untreated Blood Tofu, and use it in their restaurants and exotic dishes. | There is a small, but growing, group of chefs and gourmets than enjoy the taste of untreated Blood Tofu, and use it in their restaurants and exotic dishes. | ||
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Lunar honey is created by the vampire bees. It is a viscous liquid, similar to the honey from wich it borrows the name, but has a pearly white color. | Lunar honey is created by the vampire bees. It is a viscous liquid, similar to the honey from wich it borrows the name, but has a pearly white color. | ||
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While its nutricional value is amost nil, it is a very succesful product, due to its sweet taste, and used by many fen as a substitute for honey or maple syrup. | While its nutricional value is amost nil, it is a very succesful product, due to its sweet taste, and used by many fen as a substitute for honey or maple syrup. | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | Since, unlike blood tofu, it is not designed as a main food substitute, vampire bees do not need to feed proteinic vegetables, but the honey will lack sweetness unless they are fed at least a 50% of fruits, sugarcane, maple sap or similar sweeteners. | ||
Revision as of 20:45, 18 May 2012
One of the main problems than Oscar Vykos faced after settling in Luna was finding enough meat to feed his "puppy", also known as Tristan, the three hundred pounds Hellhound. After a couple of tries in desiging an artificial vat, he only managed minor succeses, changing soy into a meat analoge, too 'wave contaminated for use by non-biomods. He eventually moved into biomoding animals, creating the genetics department of Genesis C&D in late 2008.
The Vorkosigan Vampire Bugs were his first success, a few months later. Named after the Vorkosigan Bugs from Lois McMaster Bujold's books, those animals eat vegetable matter and turn it into an edible paste.
The Bugs come in two varieties, flying and land -each being evolved from bees or termites. They give different products, Lunar Honey and Blood Tofu, but have similar biologies and needs.
Vampire Termites are a deep black, and range from half an inch to an inch long. Their appeareance is closer to cockoaches than termites, and they have a small red marking, similar to a flame, in their backs. They also have two ivory white pincers in their mouth.
Vampire Bees have a similar shape as bees, but they are twice the size and their matkings are read and black. They also have a red flame in their backs, and their stinger is proportionally twice as bg as it should be.
Life Cicle
Both vampire bees and vampire termites are hive insects. Adults feed on vegetable matter, but larvae need to eat a mixture of blood and either lunar honey or blood tofu (there is a special insect caste, nurses, that only creates this mixture). That means than they need a source of blood when they have larvae growing -as they are farm animals, this is animal blood in feeding vats.
Queens, in the same way as bees, are born as common worker bugs. If they are fed the common paste, they will grow as workers; larvae than get royal jelly will turn into queens. This Royal Jelly is created by adding green handwavium to the nursing paste. This is always done artificially; since Vampire Bug farms are usually built in closed environments, no queen has yet fled to live on the wild. It is unknown if such a wild swarm would be able make Royal Jelly and raise a new queen to succeed the old one.
A worker, warrior of nurse bug will live two years, while a queen will live form five to seven years.
Blood Tofu
Vampire termites produce several varieties of blood tofu, depending on the animal's feeding. This paste is similar in looks and texture to tofu, though a blood red colour -hence the name.
While the termites will make tofu from any vegetable, including discarded peels, grass or leaves, the nutritional value is not the same: Proper meat substitutes need a 50% of highly proteinic foods, like tofu, wheat gluten or legumes.
Taste will change slightly with the vegetal used, but that usually is not noticeable because raw blood tofu, while edible, is seldom used. It is treated with a variety of additives and flavoring, so it tastes, and looks, like pork, beef or chicken.
There is a small, but growing, group of chefs and gourmets than enjoy the taste of untreated Blood Tofu, and use it in their restaurants and exotic dishes.
Lunar Honey
Lunar honey is created by the vampire bees. It is a viscous liquid, similar to the honey from wich it borrows the name, but has a pearly white color.
While its nutricional value is amost nil, it is a very succesful product, due to its sweet taste, and used by many fen as a substitute for honey or maple syrup.
Since, unlike blood tofu, it is not designed as a main food substitute, vampire bees do not need to feed proteinic vegetables, but the honey will lack sweetness unless they are fed at least a 50% of fruits, sugarcane, maple sap or similar sweeteners.
