Beetle-headed merchants (Earth-2213)

The beetle-headed merchants are merchant desert-dwellers that predate the tribes of the Si Wong Desert, as well as Sunagakure itself. Many legends tell that their unique feature - the beetle-like headpieces - date back to the ancient times before the shinobi emerged in great numbers, when their ancestors lived underground and survived gilacorn attacks by mimicking their appearance.

Overview
The opportunistic flexibility of the beetle-headed merchants made them skillful traders and talkers. They see the potential for merchantable material in virtually everything presented to them, which, alongside their easygoing and friendly nature, make them the first choice to trade with by the sand tribes and the hidden villages that border the Si Wong Desert - Sunagakure and Konohagakure. The beetle-headed merchants have settlements through the less hostile areas of the Si Wong Desert, proudly flying their red and black flag. They frequent the Misty Palms Oasis, a bar they consider to be their base, where they meet and deal with potential costumers. They trasverse the hostile desert on their giant rhinoceros beetles, an important part of their culture.

History
In 225 AG, the sand tribesman Ghashiun sold Appa to beetle-headed merchants. The merchants wanted to sell the flying bison in Ba Sing Se for thousands of ryo, but after witnessing the ferocity of the creature, they sold him to a circus instead.

In 237 AG, after the Fifth Kazekage Gaara was kidnaped by the Akatsuki, Team 7, alongside Temari and Chyo, journeyed through the Si Wong Desert to find him. They asked sand tribesmen and beetle-headed merchants of any suspicious people they saw in the desert;