In Grounded, players can tame pets such as Aphids, Weevils, and Gnats to provide extra inventory slots and an ongoing passive boost.
To tame these creatures, players need to prepare slurries with Plant Fibres or Mushroom Chunks and drop them near the bug in question. After two of these slurries are eaten by the bug, a white aura will appear around it.
Aphids
Obsidian Entertainment’s most recent update for Grounded has introduced a host of exciting new content, but one of the most intriguing additions is the ability to tame Aphids and Weevils as pets! Adding an animal companion can be an excellent way to breathe life into your base in Grounded; plus, these adorable bugs are non-hostile so they make great company.
Taming an aphid is more complex than simply dropping food for them to eat. To achieve success, players must first craft a Grinder that creates something called Plant Slurry; to do this they’ll need to gather plant fibers and mushroom chunks from around your backyard.
Once the Grinder is constructed, players must place their collected materials inside and wait a few minutes. This process will transform the items into a slurry that can be used to tame Aphids, Gnats, and Weevils.
When trying to train a bug, the type of food used depends. Aphids eat plant slurries, gnats consume spoiled meat slurries and weevils consume mushroom slurries. Thus, in order to successfully train either an aphid or weevil, it’s necessary to collect various kinds of slurries first.
Once all necessary ingredients have been prepared, players can begin the taming process by searching for an aphid or weevil outside their base. Both creatures are relatively easy to locate; however, aphids may prove more challenging due to their propensity to become startled when disturbed.
When an aphid is startled, it will squeak, jump and flee from perceived threats. They also occasionally drop aphid honeydew which can be useful when crafting in-game items like the ZIP.R or getting an edge when zip-lining down.
Weevils
Weevils are non-hostile bugs commonly encountered in the Grasslands. They move rapidly and rarely stop, making capture difficult. Additionally, they’re attracted to player-dropped mushrooms such as Mushroom Chunks, Toadstool Chunks, or Mushroom Slurry that you drop.
Grounded’s Shroom and Doom update introduced the ability to tame Aphids and Weevils as pets, allowing players to adopt these creatures as companions instead of hunting them down. Taming these bugs allows users to pet them, feed them, and give them attires with added protection.
Taming Aphids and Weevils require two distinct slurries: Plant Slurry for Aphids and Mushroom Slurry for Weevils. These can be crafted using the Grinder, a new crafting station included in the latest update.
Once your Grinder is set up, you can grind any type of plant fiber to get Plant Slurry for your Aphid or mushroom chunks for your Weevil. With these ingredients in hand, you can leave your base and search for a tamed Weevil or Aphid.
Once you’ve located your potential pet, drop either two Plant Slurries or Mushroom Slurries in front of them. If successful, they should consume the slurries and then you can pet them to complete the process.
You can tame Weevils and Aphids by building a pet house, which must be done before depositing them in your base. All that’s necessary to construct this structure is two Weed Stems, an Acorn Shell, and four Mushroom Bricks.
Gnats
Gnats are small insects that fly high off the ground. Their flight patterns are unpredictable, swaying from side to side and making them difficult to hit with ranged weapons.
These pests are often found in yards and gardens, especially lawns and flowerbeds where they cause wilting even when watered sufficiently. Furthermore, their larvae may spread soil-inhabiting pathogens from their droppings onto plants.
A fungus gnat is a 2-5 mm insect with dark wings, delicate legs, and long antennae. It lays its eggs in soil and larvae feed on roots and algae within one inch of the surface of the soil. Within one generation, larvae may develop from 21 (72degF) to 40 (61degF) days.
Adult fungus gnats are dispersers of soil-dwelling pathogens that damage crops. They feed on plant roots and stems within 1 inch of soil, causing wilting. Furthermore, their droppings contain predaceous mites and nematodes which live in that environment.
They can be found in a range of plant and animal habitats, such as grasslands, flowerbeds, and fields. To keep them under control, use predatory organisms like nematodes or soil-dwelling predaceous ants to prevent their spread.
Gnats can also be tamed in the backyard. Gnats will come to eat Spoiled Meat Slurries that you can sprinkle onto the ground to attract them.
Once tamed, they become your pet and will eat spoiled meat, pollen, and snagged seeds on the ground to give you the Gnat Friend bonus. This bonus increases Dandelion Tuft’s glide distance and makes traversing various terrain easier in Grounded.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf spiders are predatory species of spiders that feed on insects. Although fast and aggressive when hunting their prey, these spiders rarely bite people unless they feel threatened.
Wolf spider bites are not poisonous or fatal, but they may cause some pain and swelling due to the venom they inject into victims’ skin. As some people may be allergic to wolf spider bites, it is important to consult your doctor before experiencing any issues.
To prevent wolf spiders from invading your home, you can seal any gaps around the foundation, walls, or roofline of your building. Additionally, clear away fallen trees and leaf piles which could attract these pests. Finally, hire a pest control service to help deter these creatures from your property as well.
Wolf spiders can usually be killed with a standard broom or shoe, though it’s best to avoid smashing or squishing them as their young are carried in the spinnerets of their abdomens. Be careful as wolf spiders have been known to send dozens of their babies into cracks and crevices within homes if you attempt to eradicate them with brute force.
If you want to tame a wolf spider, the best way to do so is by keeping it in a terrarium. A terrarium is an enclosed, cool, and dark space where the spider can live and get fresh air. Make sure the lid fits tightly over the top so as not to expose the creature to too much light and prevent escape.