Squidcada

Squidcadas, simply called Cicadas in the game's files, are neutral flying insectoid creatures that form small nests and colonies in several locations throughout Rain World. They hunt for small prey to bring back to their nests, and start out passive towards, though they can be both useful and dangerous to the player in certain situations. They prey upon, , and rarely corpses. Squidcadas are hunted and eaten by, , and other predators.

Abilities & Behavior
Squidcadas are cuttlefish-like creatures that flutter across the regions they inhabit on four small wings. Their bodies have two variations, Black and White, and are detailed in various shades of blue. They generally make nests in enclosed spaces, where they bring food they catch and return to after a hunt.

The primary prey of Squidcadas are, like the. For this reason, the player may often find themselves in contention with these creatures for food if pressed for time by the rain. They catch prey using their great mobility and aerial speed and bring it back to the nest. While generally passive, these creatures are somewhat territorial and may attack Slugcat if they steal their prey or intrude on their territory. Though unable to deal damage, they can grab and hold onto Slugcat, dragging them down, or ram into them, knocking them off poles or ledges.

It's possible to get killed by a Squidcada but it's very situational and unlikely. This is most easily achievable by being light (either starving or playing as should suffice), and standing next to a Squidcada nest. Due to their somewhat territorial nature a Squdcada may become aggravated (if not, you may throw some at them to provoke them). If a Squidcada grabs the Slugcat, it will do it's best to drag them into their nest. Being nested by the Squidcada will result in a death.

If necessary, Squidcadas can be stunned or repelled by, s, and other weapons, though they may be difficult to hit due to their erratic flight.

Squidcada varieties
Squidcadas are found in two varieties distinguished by their body color and behavior. Black Squidcadas are encountered more commonly, as they often stray further from the nest in search of food and are more widely spread out. On the other hand, White Squidcadas stay closer to their nest, and are larger and slower than their counterpart. Both otherwise follow similar behavior.

Relationships
White Squidcada: Eats - Leeches*(0.4), Batfly*(0.2), Centipede (Infant)*(0.15), Noodlefly (Infant)*(0.1) Black Squidcada: Eats - Leeches*(0.2), Batfly*(0.4), Centipede (Infant)*(0.15), Noodlefly (Infant)*(0.1)

Reputation
At sufficiently high levels, Squidcadas ignore Slugcat completely. At low reputation levels or when intruding on their territory, they attempt to charge into the and knock them off of poles and platforms. At very low reputation levels, Squidcadas avoid Slugcat if they are carrying a weapon. 'Brave' Squidcadas however, consisting of 50% of the total population, still attempt to ram the player, even when armed.

Leech Fishing
Squidcadas occasionally attempt to 'fish' for by diving into the water and trying to grab a single leech. This can sometimes result in multiple leeches latching onto a Squidcada, causing it to drown.

The targeted leech does not need to be swimming - in some cases, even a leech attached to another creature may be grabbed.

Use in extended jumping
Squidcadas can be invaluable movement tools to, especially in high altitude areas like the Sky Islands. They require both hands to hold onto, and, if grabbed, can be used to increase the height and distance of jumps and allow Slugcat to reach normally difficult or impossible-to-reach locations. However, Squidcadas grow exhausted with continued movement and need to stop flying to rest. When this happens, the player must stay still in order for it to wake up. Squidcadas wake faster if released. Black Squidcadas have less stamina than white ones, making White Squidcadas a better choice for crossing large gaps.

Use in flying
If is starving, their weight decreases dramatically. When this is used in conjunction with a Squidcada, large distances can be traveled very quickly. If a White Squidcada is used rather than a black one, a backflip or pounce can be performed which allows Slugcat to fly indefinitely, holding jump to ascend whenever they want. Touching any surface with Slugcat or grabbing a pole ends this effect, forcing the player to set it up again.

As, starving is not required, as they are so light naturally that they can fly even without starvation.

Trivia

 * Despite holding onto a Squidcada requiring two hands, is still able to climb poles.
 * If Slugcat is holding onto both a Squidcada and a pole, the Squidcada drags them up the pole. If the Squidcada is exhausted, however, Slugcat is dragged slowly down the pole due to the weight.
 * A Squidcada held by Slugcat remains attached if Slugcat is eaten by Worm Grass.
 * While items usually cannot be carried in conjunction with a Squidcada, can still be grabbed if Slugcat lands directly on one. Moreover, eating the Batfly does not cause Slugcat to release the Squidcada.
 * It is possible to bring multiple Squidcadas from one region to another, starting with a white one and then multiple black ones. This results in a new Squidcadas 'colony' in that region.
 * The metal plate asset on the front of the Squidcadas is reused in-game on the upper bodies of.
 * Batflies that are being carried by Squidcadas can be knocked out of their mouth by hitting them with an object.