The Squidcada is similar in size to Slugcat and has a shiny, oblong body, a pair of eyes, 2 pairs of thin, semi-translucent wings, and numerous squid-like arms around their face. Their body can be either white or black. White Squidcadas have black eyes with blue pupils, while Black Squidcadas have blue eyes with black pupils. Both varieties have a patch of blue coloration where the head meets the body.
Tips
Utility
Squidcadas can be held with both hands to significantly increase Slugcat's jump height and distance. However, Squidcadas grow exhausted with continued movement and need to stop flying to rest. When this happens, Slugcat must stay still in order for them to wake up. Squidcadas wake faster if released. Black Squidcadas have less stamina, making White Squidcadas a better choice for crossing large gaps.
If Slugcat 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, performing a backflip or pounce allows Slugcat to fly indefinitely, holding jump to ascend whenever they want. Touching any surface with Slugcat or grabbing a pole ends starve flight.
As Spearmaster, starving is not required to achieve flight due to having low weight by default.
Abilities & Behavior
Squidcadas playing
The Squidcada's primary form of movement is flight, generally flying around their environment and sometimes hovering in one place. Squidcadas can also press their bodies against a surface, sliding across it slowly.
Squidcadas are social creatures, staying close to other Squidcadas and sometimes playing by spinning in circles around each other.
If necessary, Squidcadas can be stunned or repelled by Rocks, Spears, and other weapons, though they may be difficult to hit due to their erratic flight.
Aggression
Their behavior towards Slugcat is generally harmless, though they may attempt to headbutt. When they do this, the Squidcada pauses midair, flutters their wings, and darts in a straight line toward wherever they were aiming. This behavior is not lethal in and of itself, but can be an annoyance or knock Slugcat into dangerous situations.
Should they miss Slugcat with their headbutt, Squidcadas continue on their path. They bounce off of any level geometry in this state, and only regain control of their movements once their momentum is fully stopped.
Reputation
Squidcadas' relation with Slugcat varies depending on Slugcat's actions. Feeding Squidcadas and saving them from threats increases reputation among them, causing them to be less antagonistic and, at sufficiently high levels, ignore Slugcat completely. Harming or killing Squidcadas decreases reputation sharply, causing them to become more aggressive towards Slugcat and attempt to ram and grab them off of poles and platforms. At very low reputation, Squidcadas with low bravery (about half of the colony) seek to avoid Slugcat when they are carrying a weapon and attempt to keep some distance. The other half tries to bully Slugcat regardless.
Diet
Squidcada catching a Leech
Squidcadas hunt Batflies, Leeches, and Infant Centipedes. They catch Leeches by diving into the water and trying to grab a single Leech. This can sometimes result in multiple Leeches latching onto a Squidcada, causing them to drown. They may also catch Leeches that are attached to another creature.
Squidcadas can eat Infant Noodleflies if one is given to them by Slugcat, but they do not actively hunt them.
A Squidcada's tentacles holding onto a Slugcat destroyed by Worm Grass
Despite requiring 2 hands to hold onto a Squidcada, Slugcat 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, Batflies can still be grabbed if Slugcat lands directly on one. Moreover, eating the Batfly does not cause Slugcat to release the Squidcada.
The metal plate asset on the front of the Squidcadas is reused in-game on the upper bodies of Leviathans.
Batflies that are being carried by Squidcadas can be knocked out of their mouth by hitting them with an object.
It is possible to get killed by a Squidcada, but it is very situational and unlikely. This is most easily achievable by being light (either starving or playing as Spearmaster should suffice) and standing next to a Squidcada nest. Due to their somewhat territorial nature, a Squidcada may become aggravated. If a Squidcada grabs Slugcat, they attempt to drag them into their den, which causes a death.
Squidcadas are referred to by the Expedition mode as White and Black Cicadas.
Squidcadas are based on a Kickstarter backer creature suggestion.
According to the devlog, the white and black variants are different sexes of the same species.[1]
The cicadas are the only RW creature so far that is explicitly gendered. I won't decide on which is male and which is female, but they come in two varietys [sic], let's call them gender A and gender B. A colony has about 50/50 of them, unless we decide to change that because of game balance stuff. A are white and a bit larger, and stay to protect the colony during a cycle. They'll hunt bats that are stupid enough to actually enter the cicada hive, but won't go out of their way. B are black and a bit smaller, these are the ones that migrate to bat swarming areas to catch food. These are likely the ones you'll encounter first, as they occur out and about contrary to just inside the hive.
Overseers (0.0)
Red Leeches (0.4) • 
Sea Leeches (0.4) • 
Batflies (0.2) • 
Infant Centipedes (0.15) • 
Infant Noodleflies (0.1)
Brother Long Legs (1.0) • 
Daddy Long Legs (1.0) • 
King Vultures (0.8) • 
Red Centipedes (0.8) • 
Blue Lizards (0.7) • 
White Lizards (0.7) • 
Vultures (0.7) • 
Pole Plants (0.5) • 
Monster Kelp (0.5) • 
Big Spiders (0.5) • 
Spitter Spiders (0.5) • 
Dropwigs (0.5) • 
Centiwings (0.35) • 
Lizards (0.3) • 
Adult Centipedes (0.15) • 
Adult Noodleflies (0.15)
Jetfish (0.5)
Green Lizards (0.1)
Squidcadas (1.0)
Slugcats (1.0)
