Floral Dragons 4 Preview - Vespon (Patreon)

Today we're very excited to introduce you to the smallest and perhaps cutest of the Floral Dragons!There are tales of how each species of floral dragon came to be, but some researchers believe that vespons were responsible for the creation of all floral dragons. Scholars cite records testifying that vespons long predate even the oldest floral dragons. Some folktales from long ago detail how the flowers pollinated by vespons would begin to move on their own, eventually growing into the first floral dragons.

Modern-day detractors argue that these so-called eyewitnesses might have simply seen the vespon collecting nectar. Since vespons need to bury themselves deeply in flowers to collect nectar, observers could have mistaken the movements of the vespon for the supposed movements of the plants.

Vespons are plump, insect-like creatures with six stubby limbs at the front of their bodies. Their backs are protected by a chitinous exoskeleton, and a tough underbelly encases their vital organs. They can beat their wings very fast, producing a continuous buzzing sound. A vespon can sustain this buzz for about an hour.

The pair of antennae on a vespon’s head are sensitive and allow it to smell flowering plants and detect nectar across great distances. To collect nectar, vespons bury themselves head-first in a flower. They feed as much as they like, then store the nectar in a special sac to take back to the hive. The fuzzy, bright yellow hair covering their bodies moves pollen from one flower to another as they feed.

Vespons make their hives in gardens or woodlands where there are plenty of flowers—growing either in soil or on floral dragons—to pollinate. Their hives are small and most often found in tree hollows. Honey storage takes up the majority of space in the hive. The queen resides in the center so she can communicate with any vespon in any area of the hive.

Vespons live happily near floral dragons. They have a particularly amicable relationship with dandelion dragons and are a vital part of the ecosystems that support azalea dragons, peony dragons, and vampire lily dragons. Vespons collect the nectar from azalea dragons’ flowers, producing a toxic honey. For peony dragons, vespons groom their petals in return for the chance to feast on the dragons’ nectar. Vampire lily dragons rely on vespons and similar pollinators to reproduce.