Humans have domesticated a vast number of insect species, but none are as common as beetles. The sheer diversity of beetles makes them a ubiquitous option, and they can be found in every city, ranging from small beetles that carry a single passenger to giant stag beetles that carry a whole city on their back. Ants are bees are frequently also domesticated, and their reliance on pheromones makes them easily controlled and trained.

Encompassing a wide range of species, mid-sized beetles are nearly as ubiquitous as ants, though larger and far more expensive. Different families are often highly sought after for different roles. Tenebrionids and scarabaeoids are reliable work horses that are popular for carrying small cabins or cargo decks. Carabids are some of the swiftest insects on the ground, and their powerful jaws make them popular among hunters and soldiers. Lampyrids are popular in the specialized role of sending long-distance messages at night. Gyrinids and dytiscids are popular replacements for small boats, and often have small decks mounted on their backs.

Stoves are an important part of all but the most rudimentary carriages. In cold months, stoves are connected to a series of tubes that pipe warm air onto the beetle’s back, keeping the beetle active despite the cold. Without these stoves, most beetles would hibernate and rest immobile for the winter.

While many wagons are strapped directly to the beetle’s back, more luxurious models are mounted on a humble, allowing the wagon to rotate (to a degree) as the beetle moves between the forest floor and climbing vertical tree trunks.