Khellid

Khellids were insectoid lifeforms native to Virinat. In the Romulan colony, khellids were tame and came in the two varieties drone and sentinel. Their hive was located in an illuminated cave near the settlement. The colonists harvested their nectar to produce ale.

In 2409, the khellids became aggressive, attacking colonists and the irrigation system. Shoortly before the colony was invaded by the Tal Shiar and the Elachi, the colonists found an Elachi device in the khellid cave and found out that Elachi spores had infected the drones and sentinels, causing their abnormal behaviour. 

Later that year, when officers of the Romulan Republic investigated the planet, the khellids had established hives throughout the settlement and remained aggressive.