Stone mites were crustaceans that clung to spaceships and buildings, consuming hulls and metal plating with a combination of strong, wire-cutting jaws and acidic saliva. They fed specifically on the silicates and complex metals. Three individual stone mites could merge to form a symbiotic ternary that featured a hard shell, which strengthened from electrolytic reactions. As defense, they could weld themselves to a metallic surface and deliver electric shocks through their feeler tails.