How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (2023)

Grounded has an amazing setting that many of us who have played in our backyards must have imagined at one point or another. Not only are you exploring the backyard as a bite-size adventurer but there are small bugs that you can keep as pets. In Grounded, you can tame bugs like Gnats, Aphids, and Weevils to do your bidding. How to do it exactly, let us find out.

Taming bugs to become your pet in Grounded is a simple task. All you need is to feed each bug its favorite food; Gnats eat Spoiled Meat Slurry, Aphids eat Plant Slurry, and Weevil eat Mushroom Slurry. Once fed enough, they will become your pets. After that, you need to deposit them in a Pet House where you can manage and even customize them.

As of now, there are only three bugs you can tame. There is some research that you need to conduct before taming is possible and for that, you have to read the rest of the guide.

Contents show

Pre-Requisites for Taming Bugs

Before we go catching ourselves our very own creepy crawly, there are some things you need to do:

Haze Lab

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (1)

To build the Pet House for your bugs, you need to first research the Mushroom Brick. To do that you must first visit and complete the Haze Lab (location marked in the picture above). The whole area is filled with deadly gas so do not forget to bring some Gas Masks. There are also deadly robot enemies here so be prepared for a fight.

(Video) Grounded: Best Trap for Capturing Aphids and Weevils (Updated 2022)

Navigate through this labyrinthine location and soon you will be face to face with an Infected Ladybug Boss. Defeat her and the surrounding enemies to get access to a room with the Haze BURG.L Chip. Give this chip to BURG.L, which will unlock the Advanced Production Buildings pack for 2,500 Raw Science. Buying it will unlock the following items to craft: Oven, Mushroom Brick, and Mushroom Slurry.

Grinder

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (2)

Next, we need to unlock the Grinder. This is a craftable utility that breaks down resources into different things. In the case of pets, it is used to make their food i.e. Mushroom Slurry, Plant Slurry, and Spoiled Meat Slurry.

You can unlock the Grinder’s recipe by analyzing Flower Petal using the Resource Analyzer.

Once the Grinder is unlocked, you can craft it with the following materials:

  • 2 Weed Stem
  • 2 Acorn Shell
  • 3 Flower Petal
  • 5 Red Ant Part

Once you have crafted the Grinder, you can deposit items in it and wait a minute or so for them to transform into other stuff like slurries.

Crafting Bug Food for Taming

Now that we have the Grinder, it is time to craft the food for the bugs to eat. Each of the three bugs prefer different food. Aphids eat Plant Slurry, Gnats eat Spoiled Meat Slurry, and Weevils eat Mushroom Slurry.

Mushroom Slurry (Weevil food)

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (3)

As mentioned before, you unlock the Mushroom Slurry recipe by purchasing the Advanced Production Buildings pack from BURG.L along with analyzing either Mushroom, Mushroom Chunk, or Toadstool Chunk with the Resource Analyzer. Mushroom Slurry is used for taming Weevils.

  • For Mushroom Slurry:
    • Deposit 1 Mushroom in the Grinder to get 2 Mushroom Slurry.
    • Deposit 1 Mushroom Chunk in the Grinder to get 6 Mushroom Slurry.
    • Deposit 1 Toadstool Chunk in the Grinder to get 10 Mushroom Slurry.

Plant Slurry (Aphid Food)

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (4)
(Video) HOW TO TAME ALL THE PETS IN GROUNDED | HOW TO TAME AN APHID IN GROUNDED NEW UPDATE SHROOM AND DOOM

The Plant Slurry recipe is unlocked by analyzing Plant Fiber with the Resource Analyzer. Plant Slurry is used for taming Aphids.

  • For Plant Slurry:
    • Deposit 1 Plant Fiber in the Grinder to get 1 Plant Slurry.

Spoiled Meat Slurry (Gnat Food)

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (5)

The Spoiled Meat Slurry recipe is unlocked by analyzing Spoiled Meat with the Resource Analyzer. Spoiled Meat Slurry is used for taming Gnats.

  • For Spoiled Meat Slurry:
    • Deposit 1 Spoiled Meat in the Grinder to get 1 Spoiled Meat Slurry.

Pet House

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (6)

Now that we can craft Mushroom Bricks, it is time to build a house for your bug pets to stay/deposit in. To unlock the recipe for Pet House, you need to first complete the following steps:

  • Analyze Mushroom Brick using the Resource Analyzer.
    • The Mushroom Brick recipe is unlocked by:
      • Buying the Advanced Production Buildings pack from BURG.L to unlock the Mushroom Slurry.
      • Then analyze the Mushroom Slurry using the Resource Analyzer.
    • Mushroom Brick is crafted by placing 5 Mushroom Slurry in the Oven to get 4 Mushroom Bricks.

With all the previous steps done, it is time to craft the Pet House by using the items below:

  • 2 Weed Stem
  • 1 Acorn Shell
  • 4 Mushroom Brick
  • 2 Crow Feather Piece
How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (7)

Place the Pet House near your base so that the pet bug stays close to the house and is safe. The Pet House is where you deposit your newly acquired pet. The pet can be replaced with another pet but the house can only be linked to one pet at a time.

Once the pet is deposited, interacting with the Pet House will show various pet statsincluding their species, preferred food, bonus player effects, personality, happiness, how many days they have been tamed, and the number of times they have been petted. You can also rename your pet from the Pet House and even equip special gear/attire on your pet to stylize them.

Related: How to Get to the Bird Bath in Grounded (Easy Guide)

(Video) Grounded: EASY TRAP for Capturing Aphids and Weevils for Pets or Infinite Food

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (8)

Now that we have covered all the previous steps, we are ready to tame our own bug pet. As mentioned before there are only three types of bugs as of now that can be tamed; Aphids, Weevils, and Gnats. It is a rather simple process to tame a bug to become your pet.

In simple words, all you have to do is feed the bug their favorite food. Once they have eaten it enough times they will automatically become your pet which can be seen by a prompt to “Pet” them when you are near, Although there are some things to consider for them to become your pet.

Weevils

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (9)

Weevils are easy to tame. They are not scared of you, so you can simply walk up to them and drop a bunch of Mushroom Slurry on the ground. It takes around two (sometimes more) Mushroom Slurry for them to become your pet.

You will be alerted on your screen once they have become your pet by eating the food. As soon as they have eaten their share of the required food, you can either walk up to them or they will come to you for you to pet them.

Aphids

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (10)

Aphids are a little tricky to tame. They are extremely timid and will run away if you are standing close to them. What you need to do is drop a bunch of Plant Slurry on the ground and walk away. Observe and track from a distance whether and which Aphid is eating the food. They might also get scared of other bugs in the vicinity.

If you have kept a reasonable space from them they will happily interact with the food otherwise if they spot you they will scurry away. Keeping this in mind, increase your separation from where the food is if you see them get scared from your close presence. Around 2 or more Plant Scurry will be enough to tame an Aphid.

Gnats

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (11)

Gnats are small flying bugs in Grounded that eat Spoiled Meat Slurry. Throw some of the food on the ground and watch them land to eat it. Like the rest of the bugs, around 2 or more needed to be fed to a single Gnat to make them tamable.

Do be aware, if you are doing this at night then there is a chance that the Gnats will ignore the slurries and will be distracted or attracted to the glowing garden lamps. Also, Gnats have the tendency to “boop” the player meaning they will bump into the player and this could lead to you falling if you are on higher ground.

Depositing Tamed Bugs

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (12)

Once a pet is tamed and starts following you, it is time to find them a home. Luckily we have already covered how you can build a Pet House. Just go to an empty Pet House and you will be given the option to Deposit Pet. Select this option and the Pet House will be assigned to the respective bug. The bugs assigned to a Pet House will wander close to it and won’t run away from you.

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You can then view its stats, rename it, and even put some accessories on your pet bug from here.

Related: Do Spiders Respawn in Grounded? What You Need to Know

Considerations for Taming Bugs

Whenever you throw food on the ground, regardless of the type of bug you want, it will attract multiple bugs. This can get annoying as the bug that you targeted earlier might not be able to eat the necessary amount of food to be tamed if other bugs around it start interacting with its food.

You have to either throw a lot of slurry on the ground or kill any extra bugs that might interfere (only possible with Weevils as Aphids will generally run away if you get too close and Gnats might swarm the food making it difficult to kill extras).

All pet bugs have a Happiness meter of sorts (viewable from their Pet House). Previously, they would leave you if they felt unhappy with your care but this has been patched out. Although you are required to tend to them to keep them happy.

If a pet becomes unhappy, it will display different, sadder animations. Ways to keep them happy include feeding them their respective food items commonly, visiting them/going on adventures with them, or petting them. They will also become happier if they are wearing any Pet Attire.

You can keep as many pets as you want, keeping in mind you will have to build a Pet House for each. Although, only one bug can accompany you on your journey.

Tamed Bugs – Interactions

How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (13)

Taming and having pet bugs in Grounded provide a bunch of different benefits to the player and to the bug itself:

  • Each of the bug types gives certain buffs to the player:
    • Aphids – Reduces stamina drain rate while sprinting.
    • Gnats – Increases glide speed with a Dandelion Tuft.
    • Weevils – Reduces thirst drain rate.
  • Aphids will passively produce items for you i.e. Aphid Honeydew.
  • Pets have unique personalities (viewable in the Pet House). Although this doesn’t have any particular effect on their behavior and might be added later.
  • Pets will still be preyed on by their respective predators 2x as often, so it is recommended to be careful with the location of the pet.
  • Pets will also drop a Pet Memorial (a decorative tombstone that you can place anywhere you want) on top of their respective loot.
  • Pets also provide 10 inventory slots, making them portable chests to store items and beneficial when you are going on a long-distance adventure.
  • Pet bugs will also have double the health of a wild bug of the same kind.
  • Pet Attires are a kind of armor for your pet bug along with a fashion statement. Depending on the attire, they provide a boost to Defense, Resistance, and Max Health.

Pet Attire

As a side note, let us look into the Pet Attire available in the game:

(Video) Grounded: How to TAME Pets and the BEST Place to Do It

AttireUnlockedRecipeDefenseResistanceEffect
How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (14)
Lil Fire Helm
AnalyzingFire Ant Head1 Fire Ant Head

3 Mite Fuzz

675%
+Max Health
How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (15)
Lil Black Helm
AnalyzingBlack Ant Part1Black Ant Head

3Mite Fuzz

450%
+Max Health
How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (16)
Lil Goggles
AnalyzingMushroom Brick3Grub Hide225%
+Max Health
How to Tame Bugs in Grounded (Gnats, Aphids, Weevils) (17)
Lil Red Helm
AnalyzingMushroom Brick1Red Ant Head

3Mite Fuzz

225%
+Max Health

Taming bugs in Grounded is a rather simple process of just feeding them enough times to make them your pet. However, there are some things that you need to do beforehand to make it even possible to tame them. If you have gone through the article thoroughly then you will be breezing through this whole process and in no time you will have your very own bug buddy.

FAQs

How do you tame Weevils in Grounded? ›

The Weevil is passive toward the player and will retreat when attacked. They can also be attracted by player dropped mushroom-items, namely Mushrooms, Mushroom Chunks, Mushroom Slurry, and Toadstool Chunks. They will eat these items and the slurries can be used to tame them.

How do you tame a gnat in the ground? ›

Taming. Gnats can be pacified by the player by feeding them enough Spoiled Meat Slurries, in which they will eat when on the ground. When dropped, the Gnat will automatically descend and land on the ground to eat the slurry. After enough is eaten, the Gnat will be tamed by the player.

Can you tame bugs in Grounded? ›

The overall technique required to tame bugs in Grounded is a fairly simple one. Find a bug, and feed it Slurries. For the most part, 2 or 3 slurries should be enough to take yourself a bug, but every once in a while, it may take a few extra. So it's always safe to be prepared.

Can you get a pet Aphid in Grounded? ›

It is possible to get a pet like an Aphid, Gnat or Weevil in Grounded, which will give you a passive bonus. Here's what you need to know to attract him and make him happy, as well as the benefits he'll give you.

How do you tame Aphids? ›

Taming. Aphids can be pacified by the player by feeding them enough Plant Slurries, in which they will eat when on the ground. When they notice a slurry, they will approach it and slowly eat it before returning to wandering.

How do you trap weevils? ›

Adult weevils can also be captured using a pitfall trap constructed from a several-inches-deep, wide-mouthed plastic cup or dish and a funnel or smaller tapered cup. Cut off most of the funnel's spout or the bottom of the smaller cup and insert it snugly into the larger cup with the hole pointed down.

What to set out to catch gnats? ›

Simply place a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar in a bowl and stir. Set your bowl in an area where gnats are prevalent, such as your kitchen or bathroom.

How do you make gnat bait? ›

In a small bowl, mix a half cup of warm water plus two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and about six drops of liquid dish soap. Gnats will be lured in by the sugary mixture, but once they dip in for a drink, the sticky dish soap will trap them.

What do gnats need to survive? ›

Because fungus gnats thrive in moist conditions, especially where there is an abundance of decaying vegetation and fungi, avoid overwatering and provide good drainage. Allow the surface of container soil to dry between waterings. Clean up standing water, and eliminate any plumbing or irrigation system leaks.

What is the strongest bug in Grounded? ›

The strongest insect in the yard is:
  • Wolf Spider. 69.6%
  • Stinkbug. 8.8%
  • Ladybug. 18.1%
  • Other (tell us who!) 3.5%

Can you ride a bee in Grounded? ›

Honeycomb could also be used to craft new items for the player's base. Also, much like ladybugs lead players to food sources, bees could lead players to honey; they'd just have to be careful when taking it. Similar to the ants in-game, players could potentially ride bees when they're introduced in Grounded.

Can you ride a Ladybug in Grounded? ›

And the best part is: When you're attacked by other bugs, they tend to aggro the ladybug as well, turning her into your own personal tank. That said, I still got mauled by a wolf spider, and, of course, you don't control her. but still, it's pretty fun!

What is the rarest Aphid? ›

The Diamond Aphid is one of the 3 rare types of aphids, the others being Rage Aphid and Armored Aphid. The Diamond Aphid has a higher chance to spawn in fields with blue flowers.

Are there mounts in Grounded? ›

The Firefly Head Mount is a craftable trophy structure. It is a mounted trophy that displays the head of an Firefly. It can be placed on vertical surfaces. Activating the trophy will provide the player with a damage bonus against Firefliesfor 15 minutes.

What is the strongest animal in Grounded? ›

As one might expect, Black Widows are the deadliest and hardest-to-kill angry creatures in Grounded that aren't official bosses. Immune to poison and resistant to all elemental and weapon types, Black Widow Spiders have no vulnerability whatsoever.

Where can I find Grounded Weevils? ›

Weevil can be found everywhere in the map except the haze zone in the west & the Hedge in the east.

What do I feed aphids? ›

Think You Can? Aphids eat a diet that consists entirely of plant sap. They are herbivores who obtain the sap through plants' phloem vessels. Within the family Aphididae, there are about 4,000 aphid species.

Can you have pets in Grounded? ›

Pets are a gameplay mechanic that allows the player to tame certain creatures. They benefit the player in several ways including giving certain buffs, producing items, and providing 10 inventory slots. Pets can be named and dressed with pet attire with the use of a Pet House.

What do weevils turn into? ›

All three types of weevils lay eggs by boring a small hole in a grain seed and laying a single egg. The tiny larvae, legless, humpbacked worm white in color, develop entirely inside the shell of the seed, transforming into the pupa which then emerges and leaves the seeds as an adult insect.

Can weevils fly? ›

Most weevils have the ability to fly (including pest species such as the rice weevil), though a significant number are flightless, such as the genus Otiorhynchus. One species of weevil, Austroplatypus incompertus, exhibits eusociality, one of the few insects outside the Hymenoptera and the Isoptera to do so.

Do gnats bite humans? ›

Both male and female gnats feed on plant nectar. In some species, the females also need blood meal to make eggs. That's why they bite mammals such as livestock, poultry, pets, and humans. When a gnat bites, it uses scissor-like mouth structures to cut the skin.

How do you trap gnats with honey? ›

Honey trap

All you need to do is cut a few pieces of yellow plastic and apply pure honey on it to make the fungus gnats stick to it. Place the plastics on or near the corners where they frequently stay to catch these annoying flies.

What liquid do you put in a fruit fly trap? ›

Fill a small bowl with apple cider vinegar and 2 drops liquid dish soap. Mix well and leave on the counter (away from pets). Fruit flies will be drawn to the bowl and meet their demise.

What do gnat eggs look like? ›

Fungus gnat females lay small, yellowish-white eggs on the surface of moist soil. The larvae that hatch are legless, with white or transparent bodies and shiny black heads.

What are tiny black flying bugs? ›

If the tiny black bugs have wings, they're probably gnats.

Depending on their species, some gnats feed on crop pests, while others are crop pests. Some bite and feed on plants, insects, and blood, while others are non-biting. Alternatively, the bugs may be phorid humpbacked flies.

Where do gnats lay eggs? ›

Fungus gnat lay eggs in moist soil or moist organic debris of plant origin. Some examples of habitat where females lay eggs include piles of leaves, garden and grass debris, compost piles and mulch. It takes about three days before the larval stage hatches from the eggs.

Do gnats hate cold or hot? ›

Generally, gnats die in cold temperatures and thrive when temperatures are between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. It's possible for gnats to continue to live indoors in off-seasons if they find a warm and wet place to thrive.

What insect lives for 24 hours? ›

Mayflies only live for 24 hours and hold the record for the shortest living life cycle on earth. This might be good news to anyone who hates bugs, but not all bugs have short lifespans. There are a few bugs that can live for years, even decades.

Do gnats hurt? ›

A person who gets bitten by a gnat may not even know it at the time. But soon after, the area around the bite will start to swell up. There may be a little bit of blood coming from the bite. The bite will be very itchy and can be painful.

Why can't i tame a weevil in Grounded? ›

To tame Aphids and Weevils as pets in Grounded, players will need to use a Grinder to create slurry, then feed those to the bugs in question. Once at that point, you can bring them back to your base to become a proper pet.

How do you control weevils on a farm? ›

An organic method of pest control that is effective against weevils is D.E., or diatomaceous earth, which is the fossilized remains of an ancient form of algae. These razor-sharp shards are deadly to many soft-bodied insects but harmless to mammals. Sprinkle onto the soil and repeat after rainfall or watering.

How do I control weevils in my garden? ›

Weevil Prevention & Control

There are several methods which can control weevil numbers, which are especially effective in combination. Grow 'trap crops' such as dandelion, marshmallow, sorrel, and portulaca. The weevils often prefer these weeds to your vegetables, and so they can make effective decoys.

How do you chase away weevils? ›

Wipe the shelves with hot soapy water or a disinfecting spray then wipe again with white vinegar, which is known to kill weevils. Clean any unaffected items such as cans or containers before returning them to the pantry.

What do you need to tame a Weevil? ›

To do this, you must build a Grinder in your base, then create Mushroom Slurry. All that's left is to find a weevil, and lay the slurry nearby. He will eat from the bowl and then befriend you. It is then possible to cuddle him, and to use him as a mule with 10 places in the inventory.

What is the strongest insect in Grounded? ›

The strongest insect in the yard is:
  • Wolf Spider. 69.6%
  • Stinkbug. 8.8%
  • Ladybug. 18.1%
  • Other (tell us who!) 3.5%

Can grain Weevil fly? ›

They possess a long slender snout and cannot fly. In the larval stage the weevils are legless, humpbacked, white to creamy white, with a small, tan head. Weevils in the pupa stage have snouts like the adults.

What are 3 potential options to get rid of weevils? ›

How to Get Rid of Weevils
  • Dispose of compromised foods. Discard any infested food items—like flour, rice, or pasta—where you've found weevils. ...
  • Vacuum the area. Clear out the kitchen cabinets or pantry shelves where you found the weevils, and vacuum the area. ...
  • Wipe down surfaces.
Jan 5, 2022

What temperature kills weevils? ›

Heating grain to 140 degrees F for 15 minutes or freezing at 0 degrees F for 3 days will kill all stages of weevils in the grain.

How do I get rid of weevils in my seed? ›

If you have room in your freezer, place items such as flour, grains, cereals and pulses in freezer bags and place the items in the freezer for a minimum of four days. This will kill any eggs that may be present in the produce.

Do weevils hurt plants? ›

If many weevils are present, the leaves are often scalloped and left with only the main vein. The grubs are highly destructive to plants. When small, grubs consume feeder roots. Larger grubs feed on larger roots, stripping the bark and sometimes girdling the plant crown.

Do weevils bite? ›

Q: DO WEEVILS BITE HUMANS? A: No. Weevils feed exclusively on grains, seeds, nuts, roots and even some fruits. Unlike fleas or ticks, they do not have a parasitic relationship to either human beings or common household pets.

What product kills weevils? ›

To kill weevils for real, treat them with Ortho® Insect, Mite & Disease 3-in-1 or Ortho® BugClear™ Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes. Be sure to always follow the label directions. Grain weevils are harmless to people, so they're more of a nuisance than a threat.

Can weevils make you sick? ›

The Good News. The truth is, weevils are NOT harmful to humans. Accidentally eating them along with your food does not cause any ill effects.

How do you get rid of weevil bugs? ›

Cloves and bay leaves act as natural repellents to weevils. Place a few bay leaves in your dried food containers to ward off these pests, and position several cloves of garlic around your pantry and kitchen to deter these bugs from making a home in your pantry. White vinegar is also known to kill pesky pantry weevils.

Can you drown weevils? ›

Weevils are also attracted to moisture, so a shallow pan of water can be set out at night and the weevils will climb into it and drown.

Videos

1. GROUNDED ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PETS! Update! Pet Perks! How To Craft Food And Pet Cosmetics! Pet Gnats!
(Jade PG)
2. Grounded: NEW TRAP for Capturing Aphids & Weevils
(Mediocre Milton)
3. All the Changes to Pets and How to Get pets in Grounded ( Updated )
(Sir Sim-Alot)
4. How To tame aphids & weevils! | Grounded
(Original Ryan )
5. TAMING INSECTS Is The BEST Thing EVER in Grounded
(Blitz)
6. How to get a pet gnat:Grounded
(SlipperySlooper)

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