Insects

Insect is a general term for a type of six-legged winged animal with a chitinous exoskeleton. On Britannia and Serpent Isle, these tiny creatures have been known to congregate in large swarms and harass travelers, especially near swampland or marshy areas. They appear in Ultima IV, V, VI, Ultima VII and Ultima VII Part Two.

Description
Insects are of little or no concern to a well outfitted adventurer, although their bites and stings may prove painful or bothersome. Generally the harm dealt by these tiny animals best reckoned in their deleterious effect on crops and livestock or their potential as a vector for disease, rather than their ability to bring any direct injury to individuals.

Magicians wishing to distract their foes have also developed a spell for the conjuration of insect swarms, known as Kal Bet Xen. Such an incantation creates a cloud of biting vermin to harry the spell's target, and may keep an opponent distracted long enough for a canny mage to effect an escape.

For reasons unknown, the hideous Gazers have been known to explode into a an angry cloud of insects immediately upon death.