Doxy

Warning! At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

The Doxy, sometimes referred to as the Biting Fairy, is a small Fairy-like magical beast, sometimes mistaken for a Fairy.

Nature

Physiology & Life cycle

The Doxy is covered in coarse black hair, and has an additional set of arms and legs. Doxies have shiny beetle-like wings, and a double row of sharp teeth. If bitten, a wizard or witch should take an antidote immediately, as their venom is highly poisonous.^[1] Doxies bury their eggs underground, and Doxy Queens can lay up to five-hundred at once. The eggs generally hatch in two to three weeks.

Distribution

Preferring cold climates, the Doxy is found throughout Europe and North America.

Interaction with humans

Doxies are considered pests. They can infest houses, taking up residence in the draperies. Removing them requires a good supply of Doxycide. Alternatively, they can be dispatched with a simple Knockback Jinx, as doxies are particularly vulnerable to it, excluding the queens, which are more resistant.^[2]

Cormac McLaggen was known to have eaten a pound of Doxy eggs for a bet, making him unable to try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team in his 6th year at Hogwarts.

Uses

Fred and George Weasley used Doxy venom for their Skiving Snackboxes, sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Harold Dingle used Doxy droppings to pretend it was powdered Dragon claw to sell to fifth years, but was confiscated by Hermione Granger.^[3]

Etymology

Doxy is an archaic English term, meaning "prostitute". It derives from the German word Docke, meaning "doll".

Behind the scenes

• In the GBC video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the Folio Bruti entry for these creatures is titled "Doxy Drone". This might mean that, like the male honey bees, doxies may have a biological haplodiploid sex-determination system or simply that male doxies have distinct behavioural patterns.
• Despite being described as being covered in coarse black hair in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, their depictions in the video games normally include little or no hair and a dark blue or purple colour.
• In some of the video games, most of the time a Venomous Tentacula is another way to effectively get rid of a doxy, for doxies are its favourite food.
• In one of the featuretes for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film), a Doxy is seen using a chamelon-like tongue to catch and eat a Billywig.
• Despite gaining a new appearance in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Doxy seen in Cases of the Wizarding World returns to its original appearance.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game) (PC Version)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
• Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Wonderbook: Book of Potions
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Mentioned only)^[4]

Notes and references