Antlion Guardian

The Antlion Guardian is a slight mutation and subgenus of the Antlion Guard. It has adapted to live in the dark, underground Antlion hives. Only one Antlion Guardian stays in each hive. The Guardian patrols the Nectarium, protecting the larval essences (which can be used for healing mortal wounds). It also protects the Antlion Grubs, and dialogue suggests that they consider Grubs as their own children, and so fight ferociously to protect them. The Guardian can track peope who have stolen larval essence for many miles, even going so far as far outside the hive.

The Guardian constantly produces a passive odor that humans cannot sense. However, upon death, this odor changes and destroys all larval essence nearby.

Vortigaunts refer to Guardians as Ancient Guardians.

Capabilities
Aside from producing a neurotoxin, the Antlion Guardian has exactly the same capabilities as the Antlion Guard.

Tactics
During the player's first encounters with the Antlion Guardian, it is imperative that he does not kill it, or he will fail his mission. When he next encounters it though, he must battle it, an Antlion Guard, and several Acid Worker Antlions.