Perhaps a gene/multiple genes concerning the eyes. If the artwork features multiple eyes per bug, then perhaps there could be a gene concerning multiple eyes as well.

A few gene ideias I had that might go very well with this mod

A "one use" stinger like a bee that feels great damage and pierces armor, but can only be used once, and takes a few days to regrow


Insect "bite" weapons like the ones of ants and spiders, dealing low damage but applying some sort of poison


Beattle horns can be used as melee bludgeoning weapons and the insect arms usable as slashing weapons


The ability to "spit" formic acids like termites as ranged attacks


Multiple legs, and grasshopper legs that give great speed increase and make traversing difficult terrain easier

Not for this mod, but maybe you can use these textures as a mod add-on for the mantodeans?

I have no idea how doable it is, but mosquito beak with lifesteal would be neat. Antlion mandibles with poison bite + increased chance to use the 'dirt in eyes' attack I've sometimes seen in combat.

Leaf-bug/orchid mantis abdomen/body that adds hunting stealth bonus.

flea/leaf-hopper legs that adds a 'jump pack' boost but without the glide that wings give for a smaller metabolism impact.

trap-jaw-ant bite ability that does decent damage and inflicts a short stun on the target.

bombardier-beetle abdomen that adds ability to spew really hot chemicals that particularly damages the eyes of the target.

Idea of a gene : one which gives something similar to the trait "communal" (from bundle of traits, make a colonist like barracks better than an private room). It makes sense I think in a insectoïd society.

small Idea for one new gene: "Insect synergy".

PRO: This gene make all insect neutral like many other animal, with those who have this gene ( but they can still fight back if attacked).

CON: Those who have this gene get a social debuff whit anyone around (except who have this gene as well and other Xenotypes relate to insect)

Idea: a gene that makes the baby/child bodies look like grubs(Unless exoskin already does that) And also for no particular reason, have the gene be separate from the exoskin gene, and maybe it could work with the extra blood colors mod and make the grub body be the color of the blood.

Idea: cocoon bed

I do have a couple of small suggestions, main one is set the spider legs to use hair color instead of skin color to make them pop out more and give pawns with them better color coordination. Could possibly work with the others but I doubt it. Main reason I mention the spider legs specifically is because the old arachne race mod had different colored legs from skin and it works pretty well in most players eyes. Another is seperate the exoskin heads and body into seperate genes similar to how core biotech does it so players can pick one or the other. In my case I would pefer not to have the heads since I use facial animation but do want that neat looking skin for my bug pawns lol

Originally posted by ParasiticSquid:

I do have a couple of small suggestions, main one is set the spider legs to use hair color instead of skin color to make them pop out more and give pawns with them better color coordination. Could possibly work with the others but I doubt it. Main reason I mention the spider legs specifically is because the old arachne race mod had different colored legs from skin and it works pretty well in most players eyes. Another is seperate the exoskin heads and body into seperate genes similar to how core biotech does it so players can pick one or the other. In my case I would pefer not to have the heads since I use facial animation but do want that neat looking skin for my bug pawns lol

to add to this, most alien races from other mods conflict with the exoesqueleton mod specificaly because of the head (they become invisible) separating the head would fix the issue..... also, add "comestic only" and "bonus only no visuals" option too, so people can costumize their insectoid thing even further

Please add screenshot of which textures this mod overwrites from "Biotech - Insectoid Genes". I was confused when certain genes suddenly started displaying differently from their icons.

what about crustacean? they are arthropods after all!

maybe some kind of cocoon gene that causes colonists to enter a cocoon at a certain time in their life?

maybe like adding a weird locust or dung beetle genes like locust wings or dung beetle horns idk

a few sugestions after coming back to the game

wings need a buff.... all they do is provide a small jump effect, while having the exact same cost as other non insect wings who do the same plus give you freedom of movement

each wing should have it's advantages and disadvantages, like beatle wing providing soem armor, or moth wings providing beuty, mantis wings extra speed etc

a "firefly" gene that makes pawns glow in the dark would also be preaty nice