Steelweaver

The steelweaver is the primary livestock species of the Klcxiix. They are large herbivorous metallic insectoid creatures native to Vc'zm, the Klcxiixian homeworld.

Lifecycle
The steelweaver goes through three stages in life: a larval stage, a pupal stage, and an adult stage. During the larval stage, the Steelweaver grub is relatively small, about the size of a dog. The larval steelweaver will consume vast amounts of metallic compounds, which are present in much of the flora of Vc'zm. Soon enough, it enters the pupal stage, wrapping itself in a metallic cocoon synthesized from the afreomentioned compounds and growing in size. After a while, it emerges from the cocoon as a mature adult, about the size of a cow. The adult steelweaver acts as a metal-producing machine, synthesizing usable metal compounds fairly rapidly. The steelweaver has a short lifespan, and this whole process can typically take place in a week. The Klcxiix harvest the cocoon of the steelweaver, as well as any adult-synthesized metal, for later use. They use this incredibly strong yet lightweight metallic compound--called steelweaver hide--for things like architecture, weaponscrafting, and starship manufacturing. The steelweavers are also susceptible to rusting, and, as they age, they slow down as rust builds up all over their shells, eventually rendering them immobile.