I need help with creating spider/insect-themed monster lists

[PhoenixPhyre]

One of my groups is approaching an area controlled by a horde of insectoid creatures. I'm looking to create a list of suitable creatures that fit the "giant bug"/spider theme from which to pull encounters. Note: I can refluff cultural/environment, but I'd prefer things that fit the shape/abilities theme.

Restrictions:
* Any type (including fiends, as there are fiendish entities present)
* Spiders or insects or anything visually/thematically similar to those
* CRs in the 0-12 range (roughly) for a low T2 party that will probably hit 9 or so by the time they finish this region.
* Wide variation--you can ignore any environmental restrictions since these are being created in zerg-like fashion by the queen.

Sources I have:
* MM
* Volo's
* Mordenkainen's
* Tome of Beasts
* 5th Edition Foes


* Giant Spiders/Giant Wolf Spiders
* Driders
* Ettercap
* Areana (ToB)
* Choldrith
* Stirge?
* Swarm of Insects
* Assassin Bug (ToB)
* Thri-kreen (?)
* Giant Scorpion
* Phase Spider
* Remorhaz (?)
* Ankheg

[Finback]

iirc, Tome of Beasts had some others like a giant solifuge, and variants on giant spiders. I've listed some below with their CR
Giant Ant (2, Queen 4),
Bone Crab (1/2) (OK, yes, this is a crustacean, but I'm sticking with arthropods!),
Carrion Beetle (4),
Chelicerae (7),
Death Butterfly Swarm (4, a greater swarm is 6),
Akyishigal, Demon Lord of Cockroaches (12), his spawn (5),
Garroter Crab (1/4),
Gerridae (1),
Glass Gator (1),
Horakh (9),
Millitaur (3),
Scorpions - Night (3), Stygian fat-tailed (3),
Skitterhaunt (4) (ok, so this is an ooze, but it's an ooze that animates dead vermin husks, so it would make sense it lives there),
Ghostwalk Spider (9),
J'ba Fofi spider (3),
Redbanded line spider (1/4),
Sand Spider (7),
Spider of Leng (7),
Suturefly (1/4),
Manabane scarab swarm (4) (amazing for shutting down spellcasters),
Prismatic beetle swarm (3),
Tosculi (these range from 1/2 to 12, depending on caste), Xhkarsh (8)

[PhoenixPhyre]

iirc, Tome of Beasts had some others like a giant solifuge, and variants on giant spiders.

<snip>

Thanks. I'll look more at Tome of Beasts.

[Beechgnome]

From Volo's: Meenlock look buggy (CR 2), cave Fisher's are always fun, Tlincalli scorpion guys are sorta buggy (CR 5).

From Mordenkainens: Steeders are spiders as duergar mounts, Dhergoloth are buggy yugoloths (as are Mezzoloths) and though it is overpowered for your adventure, the Retriever is Cr 14 demon-infused drow-controlled robot spider.

[Laserlight]

Take any monster, eg goblins or young dragon, and add some combination of spiderclimb, web or other entanglements, and poison.

Similarly you can refluff spells
Thorn whip = using web to reel them in
Spirit guardians = a zone of web plus a swarm of small spiders

[Finback]

Kobold Press JUST released the new Creature Codex (which is 420 or so pages of new creatures).

New insects/arachnids/etc: (and their CR)

Acid Ant (1/4)
Anophiloi (big mosquito) (1)
Arcamag (mana-feeding tick) (2)
Bearmit crab (basically, owlbear but with less owl, more crab) (2)
Fleshpod hornet (trypophobes beware) (6)
Giant moth (1/8)
Rimewing giant moth (1/4)
Shockwing giant moth (1)
Sootwing giant moth (1/4)
Goliath longlegs (7)
Megapede (can eat metal) (3)
Nectrotic tick (1/4)
Ragipede (its bite makes people go berserker and attack randomly) (2)
Roachling scout (bug people) (2)
Shoreline scrapper (magnetic lobster, covered in armour and weapons, can restrain armour-wearing PCs) (6)
Crypt spider (can make zombies) (2)
Jewelled drone tosculi (more bug folk) (4)