Neekerbreeker
Neekerbreekers are a breed of gigantic, cricket-like insects whose incessant, rasping calls echo across the wetlands they inhabit. Their name comes from the Hobbits of Bree-land, who coined the term to describe the maddening noise produced by these creatures. Like the great Spiders and Sickle-flies, Neekerbreekers have grown increasingly large and aggressive in recent years, though whether this change is natural or the result of darker influences remains uncertain. In addition to the common variety, the species also includes the Nerbyg (singular: Norbog).
Neekerbreekers are considered of normal difficulty. Some individuals are openly aggressive, while others will issue a warning or threaten before attacking. Their tough chitin offers some protection against mundane blows, making them resistant to Common damage, though they are notably weak to Beleriand damage.
These insects are most often found in swampy and marsh-filled regions, including the Midgewater Marshes of Bree-land, Haragmar in the Lone-lands, Barandalf in Evendim, and both Western and Eastern Malenhad in Angmar. Their droning calls are often the first sign of their presence, long before they are seen.
A list of all known sightings:
Background
Samwise Gamgee refers to the crickets of Bree-land as "neekerbreekers" in The Lord of the Rings, describing their irritating noise. In Tolkien's writings, these insects were not explicitly described as enormous, though an early draft refers to them as "over-grown." The gigantic Neekerbreekers encountered in The Lord of the Rings Online are therefore a significant expansion on Tolkien's original concept.