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Desert Vermin, Giant Ground Wasp

Black and yellow stripes cover this winged insect’s bulbous abdomen, which ends in a dagger-sized stinger.

Giant Ground Wasp CR 4

Source Pathfinder #81: Shifting Sands pg. 83
XP 1,200
N Small vermin
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +4

Defense

AC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +2 natural, +1 size)
hp 39 (6d8+12)
Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +2
Immune mind-affecting effects

Offense

Speed 20 ft., burrow 10 ft., fly 40 ft. (average)
Melee bite +7 (1d6+2), sting +7 (1d4+2 plus poison)
Special Attacks implant, poison

Statistics

Str 15, Dex 19, Con 15, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 2
Base Atk +4; CMB +5; CMD 19 (27 vs. trip)
Skills Fly +6, Perception +4; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception

Ecology

Environment warm desert
Organization solitary or hive (2–20)
Treasure none

Special Abilities

Implant (Ex) Ground wasps grow their eggs inside of a living host. Implanting eggs in a host is a full-round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, and the target must be helpless but alive. Once an egg is implanted, it exudes paralytic enzymes that not only keep the victim in a state of perpetual paralysis, but also keep it nourished and alive— and fully aware. This condition lasts until the egg hatches 1d6 days later, at which point the larvae consume most of the host, killing it. Any magical effect that removes paralysis or disease (such as remove paralysis, remove disease, or heal) destroys the eggs, but mere immunity to paralysis or disease does not offer protection.

Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Description

In areas of dense vegetation, ground wasps can destroy crops and ruin the land with their burrows, but in the rocky and sandy desert, living creatures are most at risk from these dangerous vermin. The blistering heat of the desert can damage delicate eggs laid in exposed locations, so ground wasps have evolved to lay their eggs safely in the bodies of their victims. They keep to their shallow burrows during the hottest parts of the day, but remain near the opening to ambush creatures that wander near. A fully-grown ground wasp is 2 feet long, with a wingspan of 5 feet, and weighs 22 pounds.

Creatures in "Desert Vermin" Category

NameCR
Giant Ground Wasp4
Giant Walking Stick5