Squidcada

Squidcadas, called simply cicadas in the game's files, are nonaggressive flying insectoid creatures that form small nests and colonies found in several locations throughout Rain World. They hunt for small prey to bring back to their nests, and are generally passive towards, though they can be both useful and dangerous to the player in certain situations. They prey upon, rarely, dead baby , and. Squidcadas can be fed to or otherwise eaten by, , and other predators.

Abilities & Behavior
Squidcadas are cuttlefish-like creatures that flutter across the regions they inhabit on four small wings; they generally possess detailing in various shades of blue, and two main variations exist: black and white versions. 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 , and 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 and other small animals using their great mobility and aerial speed, before bringing them back to the nest where it is later consumed. While generally passive, these creatures are somewhat territorial and sometimes attack if they steal their prey or intrudes on their territory; though they are generally not deadly, they grab and hold onto, dragging it down and potentially throwing it over the edge of a cliff or into a dangerous area. However, if grabbed, their flight capabilities can be quite useful; see below.

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

Squidcada varieties
These creatures are found in two varieties or 'sexes': black and white Squidcadas. The black kind are the ones most commonly encountered, as they often stray far from the nest in search of food and are more widely spread out. The white variety, on the other hand, stay closer to the nest, and are both larger and slower than their counterparts. Both otherwise follow generally similar behavior.

Reputation
Squidcadas ignore completely at very high reputation levels. They attempt to charge into the and knock them off of poles and platforms if the player has sufficiently low rep with Squidcadas globally or is intruding on one at neutral rep. At very low reputation levels, Squidcadas attempt to avoid the player when carrying a weapon. 'Brave' Squidcadas, consisting of 50% of the total Squidcada population, however, still attempt to ram the player at very low rep levels, even when armed.

Leech Fishing
Squidcadas occasionally attempt to 'fish' for by diving into the water until one latches on. This can sometimes result in multiple latching onto a Squidcada, causing it to drown.

Use in extended jumping
Although only usable as a food source by (providing three food pips), Squidcadas can be invaluable to, especially in high areas like the Sky Islands. If grabbed, the Squidcada’s constant attempt to fly away allows the player a greater jump both in height and distance, allowing one to reach normally difficult or impossible-to-reach locations. However, Squidcada grow exhausted with erratic movement and stop flying to rest. When this happens, needs to stand still for a short while to let the Squidcada wake back up. Black varieties tend to get worn out more frequently than white varieties, so if the player is crossing a dangerous gap with one, they may wish to select a white Squidcada. They do, however, take both hands to keep still, so other items cannot be carried at the same time.

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

Trivia

 * Despite holding onto a Squidcada requiring two hands, is still able to climb poles.
 * If is holding onto both a Squidcada and a pole, the Squidcada drags it up the pole. If the Squidcada is resting however,  is dragged slowly down the pole due to the weight.
 * While items usually cannot be carried in conjunction with a Squidcadas, if lands directly on a, they still grab it. Moreover, eating the  does not release the Squidcadas.
 * It is possible to bring multiple Squidcadas from one region to another, starting with a white one and then bringing 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.