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Harpie bug swarm

Source revision 15338388 · Saved 2026-09-30 · Sources & credits

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Harpie Bug Swarm
Released30 January 2006 (Update)
MembersYes
Combat level46
Size1x1
ExamineA swarm of bugs.
Combat info
XP bonus+0%
Max hit6
AggressiveYes
PoisonousNo
Attack styleCrush
Attack speed4 ticks (2.4 seconds)
Respawn time25 ticks (15 seconds)
Slayer info
Slayer level33
Slayer XP25 xp
CategoryHarpie Bug Swarms
Assigned by
Combat stats
2554463211
Aggressive stats
Monster attack bonusMonster strength bonusMonster magic strength bonusMonster ranged strength bonus
+0+0+0+0+0+0
Melee defence
+10+5+10
Magic defence
Fire elemental weakness
+550% weakness
Ranged defence
LightStandardHeavy
+10+10+10
Immunities
Poison0% resistance
Venom0% resistance
CannonsNot immune
ThrallsNot immune
Open in DPS calculator
Advanced data
Monster ID464
LinkMOID

Harpie bug swarms are mid-level slayer monsters that require a Slayer level of 33 to kill. A lit bug lantern, which requires a Firemaking level of 33 to light, is required to damage these monsters (the lantern must be lit and equipped). If you do not have 33 Firemaking, you cannot be assigned harpie bug swarms as a Slayer task.[1]

Harpie bug swarms should be an easy task for well-equipped mid-level players; their abundance as well as the fact that they remain aggressive to players until level 93 combat makes this task very click-easy. As harpie bug swarms are very accurate, and will often hit for up to 6 Hitpoints, it is advisable to have Defence levels from 40-50+ and to bring food appropriate for the player's level, such as lobsters. Another option is to keep Protect from Melee up and recharge prayer at the relatively nearby altars.

It is recommended to bring nature runes while slaying this monster since it has many drops that can be alched to free up inventory spaces, and fire runes are frequently dropped from this monster.

Locations

Location Levels Members Spawns Map
North-east of Tai Bwo Wannai (DKP)46Members14Show map
East of the Colossal Wyrm Remains46Members18Show map

Colossal Wyrm Remains

  • (Recommended) Building a quetzal landing site at Colossal Wyrm Remains opens up a very convenient, quick shortcut to a bank at Auburnvale and a prayer altar at The Teomat.
  • The closest fairy ring is AJP, requiring you to run south across the open savannah, mostly free of enemies and obstacles.
  • Alternatively, it's possible to reach the location from the Hunter Guild bank or Civitas illa Fortis.

With an appropriate method of transport, this location is very accessible, offers several safespots, and is free of dangers associated with Karamja (eliminating the need for an antipoison).

Tai Bwo Wannai

  • The closest fairy ring is DKP, although you will need to run south, past the Shaikahan and aggressive jogres, use the log shortcut to cross the river and then run north. Fairy ring CKR can also be used, though it's further to the south.
  • A Tai bwo wannai teleport scroll will take you to the nearby village, just south-west of the swarms.
  • You can also use the Ardougne cloak's teleport to the monastery, run north-east to Captain Barnaby, take the boat to Brimhaven and run south and east to reach the swarms.
  • If the player's house is in Brimhaven, you can Teleport to House, then walk south to the mainland, then east.
  • If the player's house is in Rimmington, you can Teleport to House, walk west to the ship, then pay 30 coins to travel to Brimhaven and walk south to the mainland, then east.
  • You can also use a ring of dueling and take the Al Kharid gnome glider to the crashed Karamja one, which is slightly slower than the fairy rings.
  • With 53 Agility, 21 Strength, 42 Ranged, and any crossbow and a mithril grapple, use the Karamja teleport option on a charged amulet of glory, run south-west, and use the grapple agility shortcut. This is faster than any other travel method, but losing an inventory space for the crossbow if not ranging (or the grapple if ranging) may not be appealing to some players.

Completion of Tai Bwo Wannai Trio enables the use of the nearby Tribal Statue to recharge prayer points.

There are two safespots: one between the two trees to the south behind the small jungle plant, and another to the north on the beaches of the fairy ring (DKP). Players can set up a cannon to range or melee 2+ swarms to the west, but will need runes to telegrab any desired drops. You can use a dwarf multicannon in this location, but you have to equip the bug lantern for the cannon to deal damage.

It is highly recommended to bring antipoison due to the presence of other aggressive, poisonous creatures.

Cannon semi-safespot for faster kills.

Drops

Drop rates are estimated based on 29,222 samples from the Drop Rate Project, unless otherwise cited.

The average Harpie Bug Swarm kill is worth 260.04.

Weapons and armour

Item Quantity Rarity Price High Alch
Steel axe.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Steel axe with rarity 4/128 in quantity 1Steel axe14/128172120
Steel full helm.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Steel full helm with rarity 4/128 in quantity 1Steel full helm14/128111330
Staff of fire.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Staff of fire with rarity 3/128 in quantity 1Staff of fire13/128942900
Mithril chainbody.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Mithril chainbody with rarity 2/128 in quantity 1Mithril chainbody12/1288841,170
Adamant med helm.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Adamant med helm with rarity 1/128 in quantity 1Adamant med helm11/1288981,152
Steel boots.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Steel boots with rarity 1/128 in quantity 1Steel boots11/1281,516180

Runes

Item Quantity Rarity Price High Alch
Fire rune.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Fire rune with rarity 20/128 in quantity 30Fire rune3020/12815060
Fire rune.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Fire rune with rarity 8/128 in quantity 60Fire rune608/128300120
Chaos rune.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Chaos rune with rarity 5/128 in quantity 15Chaos rune155/1281,575810
Death rune.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Death rune with rarity 3/128 in quantity 3Death rune33/128576324

Coins

Item Quantity Rarity Price High Alch
Coins_25.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Coins with rarity 25/128 in quantity 40Coins4025/1284040
Coins_100.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Coins with rarity 20/128 in quantity 160Coins16020/128160160
Coins_100.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Coins with rarity 10/128 in quantity 230Coins23010/128230230
Coins_25.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Coins with rarity 7/128 in quantity 30Coins307/1283030
Coins_250.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Coins with rarity 2/128 in quantity 490Coins4902/128490490

Other

Item Quantity Rarity Price High Alch
Gold ore.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Gold ore with rarity 8/128 in quantity 1Gold ore18/12815690
Jug of wine.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Jug of wine with rarity 2/128 in quantity 1Jug of wine12/12840

Gem drop table

There is a 3/128 chance of rolling the gem drop table.

Item Quantity Rarity Price High Alch
This does not exist.NothingN/A1/85.49; Never[d 1]N/AN/A
Uncut sapphire.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Uncut sapphire with rarity 1/170.67 in quantity 1Uncut sapphire11/170.67; 1/86.67[d 2]20515
Uncut emerald.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Uncut emerald with rarity 1/341.33 in quantity 1Uncut emerald11/341.33; 1/173.33[d 2]41630
Uncut ruby.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Uncut ruby with rarity 1/682.67 in quantity 1Uncut ruby11/682.67; 1/346.67[d 2]1,01660
Nature talisman.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Nature talisman with rarity 1/1,820.44 in quantity 1Nature talisman11/1,820.44; 1/924.44[d 2]1622
Uncut diamond.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Uncut diamond with rarity 1/2,730.67 in quantity 1Uncut diamond11/2,730.67; 1/1,386.67[d 2]2,438120
Rune javelin.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Rune javelin with rarity 1/5,461.33 in quantity 5Rune javelin51/5,461.33; 1/2,773.33[d 2]6351,200
Loop half of key.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Loop half of key with rarity 1/5,461.33 in quantity 1Loop half of key11/5,461.33; 1/2,773.33[d 2]9,57360
Tooth half of key.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Tooth half of key with rarity 1/5,461.33 in quantity 1Tooth half of key11/5,461.33; 1/2,773.33[d 2]9,96260
Rune spear.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Rune spear with rarity 1/87,381.33 in quantity 1Rune spear11/87,381.33; 1/5,200[d 2][d 3]11,75412,480
Shield left half.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Shield left half with rarity 1/174,762.67 in quantity 1Shield left half11/174,762.67; 1/10,400[d 2][d 3]65,42466,000
Dragon spear.png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Dragon spear with rarity 1/233,016.89 in quantity 1Dragon spear11/233,016.89; 1/13,866.67[d 2][d 3]38,03037,440
  1. ^ The "nothing" drop is removed while wearing a ring of wealth.
  2. ^ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 The drop rate is increased while wearing a ring of wealth due to the "nothing" drop being removed.
  3. ^ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Only dropped if Legends' Quest has been finished; if not, a talisman is dropped instead.

Tertiary

Item Quantity Rarity Price High Alch
Clue scroll (medium).png: Harpie Bug Swarm drops Clue scroll (medium) with rarity 1/128 in quantity 1Clue scroll (medium)11/128[d 1][d 2][2]Not sold12
  1. ^ The medium clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/121 after unlocking the medium Combat Achievements rewards tier.
  2. ^ Clue scrolls will drop as scroll boxes after the completion of X Marks the Spot.

Collection log

Harpie Bug Swarms have a single collection log item.

ItemCollectionsComp%
Steel bootsSlayer28.8%

Changes

Date Changes
25 June 2025
(Update)

Harpie bug swarms now have a 50% elemental weakness to fire spells.

8 May 2024
(Update)

Chaeldar no longer assigns players Harpie Bug Swarm tasks.

10 September 2015
(Update)

Duradel no longer assigns players Harpie Bug Swarm tasks.

25 April 2013
(Update)

Harpie bug swarms will no longer be assigned as a Slayer target unless you have the appropriate Firemaking level.

References

  1. ^ Jagex. Mod Ash's Twitter account. 1 October 2017. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Mod Ash: "I think all three of the checks you list are still in effect on the creatures in question. Reducing requirements tends not to be popular."
  2. ^ Jagex. Mod Tide's Twitter account. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Mod Tide: "I know its been a while since the clue expansion but here is the information on clue scroll drop rates and loot chances! If anything changes I will keep you posted."

Sources & credits

“Harpie Bug Swarm” by Old School RuneScape Wiki contributors, revision 15338388. Text adapted under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; adapted text is shared under the same license. Formatting and navigation changed; Wiki scripts and editing controls omitted. Game imagery © Jagex Ltd. Imported image-file descriptions retain their own credits and licensing statements.

Original source address: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Harpie_Bug_Swarm?oldid=15338388

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