As you progress on in Grounded 2 and begin crafting more advanced equipment, you will be forced to hunt down rarer and stronger bugs for the valuable drops they provide. One such resource is Spine Nubs, which is a relatively rare crafting item that becomes more significant during mid-game. Not from a highly challenging battle, but Spine Nubs are attached to an elusive enemy that might not be easy to discover and reach.
This manual outlines where and how to gather Caterpillars, the only source of Spine Nubs, and gives guidelines on the best way to harvest them.
Where to Find Caterpillars
Caterpillars are the only source of Spine Nubs, but they’re rarely found on the ground like so many other creatures in the game. Instead, they spawn on high, elevated plant leaves—platforms that are usually inaccessible without some clever climbing or a little base-building. Their green with yellow and red trim color scheme works in their favor, as it makes them able to blend in and become hard to see from below.
There are quite a number of specific locations where Caterpillars will show up repeatedly, especially early in the game:
- Snackbar (Bottom Right Corner): One of the simplest caterpillars to find is on a plant in front of the wooden staircase at the bottom right corner of the Snackbar area. Climb the wood and then jump several times from leaf to leaf until you arrive at the one that the caterpillar is resting on.
- Southwest of Snackbar: Another Caterpillar spawns atop a tall, solitary plant that is too high to reach by jumping alone. In this case, you’ll need to construct a small structure or staircase to get close enough to engage it.
- Southwestern Tree Roots: In the bottom left corner of the map, near the large tree which also sheds Acorns, there is a Caterpillar that roams the revealed root system. This is a less difficult area to access and is also a good place for Acorns to gather.
While Caterpillars are not so difficult to kill, getting to them is typically the greater challenge. When dead, they drop a variety of materials, with Spine Nubs being the most sought after.
How to Access High-Up Caterpillars
Caterpillars are often located in places that make traversal just as important as combat. If natural terrain like roots or wooden planks isn’t enough to get close to them, your next best option is to build a staircase to reach their perch.
After unlocking the Base Building Upgrade at the Science Station, you’ll be able to craft Staircases using the following materials:
- Grass Plank (4)
- Weed Stem (1)
Constructing a basic stairway toward a Caterpillar’s location is usually enough to reach them safely. Keep in mind that building stairs takes time and materials, so it may not be worth the effort for a single kill. If possible, prioritize Caterpillars that can be accessed via climbing or clever platforming.
Or, you can slay an accessible Caterpillar, pick its Spine Nubs, and simply wait a few game days for it to regrow. This is material-efficient and safer if you’re still running low on materials.
Spine Nubs are a mid-game resource gated to Caterpillars—a rare but not particularly dangerous bug that will be sitting atop tall vegetation. Chasing down these bugs takes some exploration, climbing, and intermittent base-building.
Whether you’re leaping across leaves or crafting a staircase to get the job done, knowing where to look and how to approach them is key to efficient harvesting. Once obtained, Spine Nubs can be used to upgrade your gear and unlock new crafting opportunities that push your survival capabilities even further.
