Talovians

The Talovians are a species of tiny mantis-like insects that are native to the caverns of Delir, the Asteros homeworld. Because of their tiny bodies they are able to keep the methane they breathe in circulating in their system for an extended period of time and have been known to forage in underwater sections of caves for food and materials. Talovians are borderline sentient and coexist with the trapped Aqualis if the cave is connected to the ocean. Their civilizations are built by carving out of stalagmites and building bridges and other external structures out of a wood-like material from small trees that grow naturally in the caves.

On their own the Talovians can't carve out the rock of the stalagmites because of how tough it is compared to their arms but by crushing a glowing fungus, called Cium, in the cave they can produce an acidic paste that weakens the calcium bicarbonate that allows them to carve it out. It also inadvertently causes the stalagmite to glow blue slightly.

Additionally, a small tree-like plant called Xage is used to make a wood-like material to build bridges and other external structures.