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Termagant

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Tyranids Portal

Termagants (species name: gauntii virago), originally reffered to as Hunter Slayers,¹ are a Tyranid species of the Gaunt genus and form broods of ranged troops. While not very strong individually, these organisms will overwhelm much more elite foes with superior numbers and support from larger Tyranid breeds. There are records of termagants expended for the sole purpose of using up the ammunition of defenders.²

Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record ^{[Needs Citation]}
Designation	Termagant
Common Title	Critters, Hunter-Slayers
Species Name	Gauntii Virago
Average Height	1.3m
Average Weight	0.2 tonnes
First encountered	Tyran
Role	Infantry
Threat evaluation	Medium

1 Biology
2 Life Cycle
3 References
4 Related Articles

Biology

Termagants have a symbiotic relationship with a species of borer beetle called fleshborers, fired out of a weapon named after the beatle.³

They have a lifespan of 2-4 years. The females of the species are slightly larger than the males, and have toxin sacs. The males are smaller, and have a slightly shorter tail. They have a long, muscular tube which fires the fleshborer beetles into their prey. Termagants are herbivores, and can eat any organic plant material.^{[Needs Citation]}

Life Cycle

Termagaunts are among the first species of Tyranid dispatched, when a hive fleet invades a system.² The adult termagants quickly assuage their hunger on plant material and mate. The female takes 5-8 days to grow the young to four inches long, then inserts half of them into her mate. When the Hive Mind instructs them to attack, they shoot their fleshborer beetles into their targets, to feed on them and mate and grow. When the Tyranids win, the termagants insert their larvae into their enemies corpses to grow, like maggots. After 2-3 weeks, a nearly adult Termagant emerges, complete with the fleshborers sharing his host corpse, and the cycle begins again.