The Lonely Galaxy is not a speculative biology project. I come up with flora and fauna as I need them, nevertheless I feel a bit sloppy about it. Yih's biosphere isn't terribly different from Earth's. Some of this is deliberate. I want yinrih culture to be more relatable while still being different, so their environment has to follow suit. Some of it is laziness. "Eh just stick an extra body segment on a bug and call it a day".
Anyway, here's a very basic insectoid body plan. It has organs analogous to antennae, but they're positioned on either side of the mouth. They're also much stronger, designed not just for sensing but also for grasping. It has two thoracic segments rather than one. Each thorax has a pair of legs and a pair of wings, for a total of four legs and four wings. There is an abdomen that does not differ substantially from that of a typical Terran insect.
As with IRL bugs, there's a lot of variation in this form, including possessing more or fewer thoracic segments, with wings and legs along with them.
Here's a few bugs I've come up with in the lore:
Fireflies: despite the name they're more like bees, living in colonies, feeding on nectar, and producing honey. Their name comes from their bioluminescence, which they use to communicate. They occupy a cultural niche similar to butterflies or ladybugs, being seen as beautiful and pleasant critters. Their association with light once made Firefly a popular given name, but its use has dropped off a cliff thanks to Lichlord Firefly, the leader of Partisan Territory.
Fur lice: ectoparasites that infest yinrih fur. They thrive in crowded environments like the floating cities of Welkinstead and on orbital colonies. There are two species, a basal form that lives on the surface of planets, and a more derived form that has adapted to microgravity, losing its wings. They may be eusocial, forming colonies on their host.
Armorbacks: marine animals in a related clade. They look very crab-like. Legends circulate among the salty-pelted sailors on the surface of Sweetwater of a gargantuan armorback capable of devouring the crew of a mini sub, and the sub along with them. It is said to be completely invulnerable except for a weak point on its ventral side. To kill it you have to flip it over on its back.
