Insects

Insects are a type of animal found in Grow: Song of the Evertree. They are small, colourful, crawling or flying creatures which can be caught by the Apprentice using their Bug Net. Insects can be found almost everywhere in Alaria, including in Caves and Vaults, as well as appearing on most Worlds (when the World has been tended enough), and in Where-Ever, home of the Everkin. Once caught, Insects can be placed into Nature Reserves for both display and harvest purposes. Insects can also be sold to Catcherkin, the bug-catching Everkin, in Where-Ever, but cannot be broken down into Essence.

Insects on a World grown from a planted World Seed will have names, colours, body shapes, and rarities determined randomly for that World. It is possible for Insect types on two (or more) Worlds to share a name, such as Sour Louse, but have different anatomy and colouration, and one could be Common and the other Uncommon or Rare. When fulfilling a Resident Request, the Apprentice must bring the Resident an Insect with the correct name from the World specified in the Quest details which can be reviewed by opening Book; an Insect of the same name from another World, or from Alaria or Where-Ever, will not be accepted.

Catching Insects
Insects are skittish and will flee when the Apprentice approaches too closely. Catching Insects uses the mechanic Sneaking. By equipping the Bug Net and holding down the Sneak button while moving slowly towards the Insect, the Apprentice can get close enough to trigger the Bug Catching icon and sound effect, which are the cue to release the Sneak button and catch the bug. Note that jumping or falling, even the slightest bit, will break the Sneak mechanic and startle nearby Insects into fleeing.

Insect Types
Insects come in both crawling and flying varieties, with numerous physical variations. Crawling Insects (both caterpillar- and worm-type) are typically found on the ground, but may also climb either Trees, Terrain Features, or Points of Interest; similarly, flying Insects are typically found hovering in the air, but may also land on either Trees, Terrain Features, or Points of Interest to rest. If an Insect is too high for the Apprentice to reach, it can sometimes be startled deliberately into going in a direction where the Apprentice may more easily Sneak up on it. Be careful the direction selected, as an Insect will not stop at the edge of the World, and crawling ones will simply leap off into the void, while flying ones will hover, tantalizingly out of reach.

Caterpillars
All caterpillar-type Insects have a fat body, usually with multiple visible legs. Unlike Critters, Insect varieties are limited by biome such that there are very few morphological differences beyond colour palettes in any particular biome.

Colours shown in the charts below are for illustration of patterns only, and any color in the biome's Insect palettes can appear on any Insect.

Flying Insects
All flying Insects have wings, as well as multiple well-defined legs. Unlike Critters, Insect varieties are limited by biome such that there are very few morphological differences beyond colour palettes in any particular biome.

Colours shown in the charts below are for illustration of patterns only, and any color in the biome's Insect palettes can appear on any Insect.

Worms
Worm-type insects are similar to caterpillar-types, but have more elongated bodies and generally lack defined leg parts. Unlike Critters, Insect varieties are limited by biome such that there are very few morphological differences beyond colour palettes in any particular biome.

Colours shown in the charts below are for illustration of patterns only, and any color in the biome's Insect palettes can appear on any Insect.

For a closer look at captured Insects, access the Apprentice's Inventory (I key on PC) and select an Insect from the Items tab, then exit the Inventory screen, and the selected Insect will be pliant in the Apprentice's arms. It can be set free by choosing "Throw" (left mouse button on PC); if the Apprentice has more of the same Insect, the next one will then appear in the Apprentice's hands. If releasing the Insect is not desired, it can simply be returned to the Apprentice's Inventory using the "Put in Backpack" command (E key on PC).

Withered Insects
When tending a World grown from a planted World Seed, the Apprentice will encounter Insects covered with a viscous substance which entirely obscures their normal appearance. In order to free such Insects, the Apprentice must use their Mallet to stun this coating of The Withering, which will allow the Insect to work its way free. Even encased in goo, these Insects will dart about, making it a challenge to land a stunning blow. Once freed, the Insects will flee from the Apprentice as usual, but if the Apprentice is quick enough at switching from their Mallet to their Bug Net, it is possible to catch an Insect just as it emerges from its goopy prison; otherwise the freed Insect can be followed and snuck up on like any other previously-spooked Insect. Withered Insects typically do not show up on the first day of tending a World.

Insect Appreciation Day
On random days, an Insect Appreciation Day Festival event is held, during which the Apprentice will receive a Festival Ticket for each Insect caught that day (previously-caught Insects are not counted, but Insects received from Everkid Chests are), and can exchange these Tickets at the Festival Grounds for a variety of Items ranging from Keys and Alchemical Batteries, to Uncommon and Rare Clothing and Hair items, to Essences, to a special Trophy available exclusively at the Festival Tent on Insect Appreciation Days; six items, selected at random, are available each event day. Unspent Festival Tickets "roll over" to the next Insect Appreciation Day, so the Apprentice can take their time accumulating enough Tickets for high-priced items. Catching many insects on their Festival days is most easily accomplished in Where-Ever, where time does not pass, or in a Nature Reserve, where Insects spawn continuously on a rock surface.

Butterflies
Frequently spotted outdoors both in Alaria and on Worlds in the branches of the Evertree are groups of butterflies which appear at random times to flit around the Apprentice, buoyed by the breeze, then flutter away again. These butterflies cannot be interacted with and are purely aesthetic, but they can be captured using Photo Mode. Butterflies are shy and may flee from an Apprentice who moves when they are nearby.

There are four variations of butterfly:
 * one with solid-colored bright green to turquoise wings, seen principally in the Desert and Nature Biomes;
 * another with wings displaying a gradient from yellow to white, seen both in Alaria and in the Fungi Biome;
 * a third with wings patterned in white and purple, seen exclusively in the Frozen and Princess Biomes;
 * and a fourth with wings patterned in red and gold, seen only in the Gross Biome and Where-Ever.

Fireflies
Glowing green fireflies can be spotted after sunset at various locations across Alaria, including just outside the Apprentice's home in Alchemist's Grotto. Fireflies do not glow continuously but rather in a slow on/off cycle. Like butterflies, fireflies are purely aesthetic and cannot be interacted with -- although it is possible to get close enough to one that its glow will tint the Apprentice green -- but can be captured using Photo Mode. Unlike the butterflies, fireflies are slow-moving and do not require quick reflexes to acquire a screenshot of. Photo Mode's Time of Day slider can be used to reveal fireflies without staying out past curfew; however, such fireflies are typically sparser, dimmer, and more distant from the Apprentice when revealed in this way.

In some Caves, the Apprentice may encounter a pallid blue subterranean variety of firefly. These tend to cluster in discrete areas rather than roaming widely, and are less likely to throw their glow onto the Apprentice.

A similarly sedentary, but even paler, pure white type of firefly is found exclusively in Where-Ever. Mainly these appear in Chopkin's cavern, since there are no true Caves in Where-Ever, but some can also be found wherever Everkids hide in Where-Ever. Whether the Everkids choose the fireflies' locations to hide in, or it's the fireflies that are attracted to the Everkids' hiding spots, remains a mystery. Where-Ever fireflies can be spotted from a distance more easily by using Photo Mode to shift the apparent time of day to dusk or night.