The giant insect-like creatures in 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind' are called Ohmu.
The Ohmu inhabit the Sea of Corruption, a vast toxic forest that emerged after ecological catastrophe devastated much of the world. Their name combines Japanese characters associated with “king” and “insect,” reflecting their enormous scale and dominant place in the forest ecosystem. In film subtitles and some English materials, the name is also rendered as “Ohm.”
Although they look frightening, Ohmu are usually peaceful and highly intelligent. Their many eyes glow blue when they are calm and turn bright red when they become enraged. Harm to another creature in the forest can trigger their collective fury, making them capable of destroying settlements. Their armored exoskeletons are exceptionally strong, while their feelers allow them to sense emotions and communicate with sensitive people such as Nausicaä.
A common mistake is treating the Ohmu as ordinary monsters. They are better understood as a central species in the film’s recovering ecosystem, embodying both the danger and the possibility of nature healing a damaged planet.