Terminid Nests are a secondary mission objective found in every 
Helldiver operation within the 
Terminid front. The size of the nests will change depending on the difficulty along with the enemy types capable of being deployed from the nests' emergence holes.
Bug hole
Bug holes are the object of interest at each nest. As demonstrated in the Tutorial mission, Terminids will periodically emerge from these structures, gathering into patrols that will search for Helldivers and civilians.
The angled shape of these structures limit attack options to explosives such as grenades or ordnance. Grenades must be thrown directly into the hole. Impact explosives such as from the AC-8 Autocannon or R-36 Eruptor must make contact with the brightly glowing minerals lining the hole's interior. Bombs and orbital strikes can destroy holes through their sheer explosive power. In desperate times, Hellpods can also be used to plug holes, with a small risk of the Hellpod's contents being stuck below ground. A Helldiver will be instantly killed if they plunge down inside a Bug Hole, usually out of carelessness.
Outside of Terminid Nests, Bug Holes can also be found in:
- Stalker Lairs which usually contains two Bug Holes that periodically spawn Stalkers.
- Nuke Nursery mission area has at least four Bug Holes around it.
- Spread Democracy has a hilltop mission area that may include a few Bug Holes.
- Purge Hatcheries mission area contains a few Bug Holes.
Titan Bug Hole
The Titan bug hole is a special type of terminid spawner that only appears in Heavy and Mega nests in Difficulty 6 and above missions. These bug holes are notable for being very resistant to traditional hole-destruction methods. It can be told apart from the rest of the nests with it's gargantuan opening that's as big as a building, and the orange aura-like grow emanating from it.
Much like its name implies, it spawns Bile Titans and is highly recommended that a Titan Bug Hole is closed first before attacking a nest, as it is not unheard of for the hole to bring forth over 2 bile titans at a time and continually spawn them as the nest is under attack.
Here are the few ways to take care of a Titan bug hole:
- A Hellpod crashing down right inside it will destroy the hole. Simply throw any kind of Hellpod-deployed stratagem down the hole and it will shut down on impact. Note that in most cases; the contents of the Hellpod will be lost, this includes other Helldivers if a reinforcement pod is used.
- A B-100 Portable Hellbomb can destroy a titan hole if detonated up-close.
- Most Orbital Stratagems are capable of destroying Titan Bug Hole such as the Orbital Precision Strike and Orbital Laser. While some such as the Orbital Gas Strike require the payload to directly hit the Titan Bug Hole.
- Some of the Eagle 1 Stratagems especially the Eagle 500kg Bomb and Eagle Airstrike. While some like the Eagle 110MM Rocket Pods are capable of destroying Titan Bug Holes, they require careful timing due to their mechanics.
- SEAF Artillery's payload can destroy a Bile Titan Hole upon direct hit.
- The MS-11 Solo Silo can destroy a titan hole with a direct hit.
- The only two infantry weapons capable of destroying a Titan Bug Hole are the FAF-14 Spear and GP-31 Ultimatum. There are currently no other weapons with a high-enough demolition force capable of closing the hole.
- The TED-63 Dynamite (as of the recent patch) can now destroy a Titan Bug Hole, making the only throwable weapon capable of doing so.
Here are also a few unconventional ways to take care of a Titan bug hole:
- Killing a Bile Titan as it emerges from the hole, may cause it's corpse to crash down onto the hole in such a way that destroys it upon death.
- Baiting a Charger to charge straight into the hole may destroy it, if it does not stop.
- An Impaler may accidentally destroy it, if its tentacles burst out very near the titan hole. Although this relies more on luck than anything else.
Tiers
At the Low tier of difficulties (1–3), small holes will spawn fodder types such as Scavengers, Bile Spitters, and Pouncers.
The Middle tier of difficulties (4–6), will usually spawn soldier types, such as Warriors, Hive Guards, and Hunters
At the High tier of difficulties (7–9), large holes will deploy any of the previously mentioned units while also deploying elite types, such as Charger variants.
The Final tier, Super Helldive (10), introduces a new type of nest simply known as the Mega-Hive. Capable of deploying every existing Terminid ground unit, excluding Stalkers.
Identifying
Larger nests are easier to identify due to the oily rock like structures built around the nests, these nests will be surrounded by green fog which may be easily blend into foggy combat zones.
Nests can be identified by the orange pheromones exhausted from the emergence holes. It is easier to identify small nests due to the more circular/crescent moon shape of their nests.
If on combat zones that have intense spore coverage, utilization of SEAF Radar Stations is recommended for proper identification of nests. If no such assets are available then utilizing a runner to ping nests is the best alternative.
Structure Types
Small: Small Terminid nests are lightly fortified locations and usually have 1-3 emergence holes that will primarily spawn Scavengers, Pouncers, and Bile Spitters. They will often have a small pack of defenders, usually including a lone Hunter and a pack of fodder. Rarely on higher difficulties will a Charger be aiding in the protection of a small nest.
Medium: Medium Terminid nests are more fortified and usually have up to 4-7 emergence holes that spawn fodder types to Warrior types. The primary defenders of Medium nests will often be Hunters, Warriors, and Hive Guards supported by a small pack of fodder. On higher difficulties, one or two Chargers may also be protecting the nest. Bug holes on Medium nests generally open towards the center, requiring a circuit around the nest's rim, or entering the bowl of the nest.
Large: Large Terminid Nests are massive fortified areas brimming with Terminids with more powerful types guarding them, usually loaded with on average 10 emergence holes. While the previously seen types make up the bulk of the Large nests' guard, Hive Guards, Brood Commanders and Chargers will also be protecting the nest. On higher difficulties, even Impalers may be aiding in defending the nest. Inside Large nests, bug holes start to open in random directions, with many obstacles in the way, forcing more thorough paths to clear.
Mega: Mega nests are the largest type of nest discovered so far. Immensely fortified and brimming with Terminids, these nests have at the maximum 13 emergence holes. It is unknown if Helldivers have been able to report there being more or not. The nest is surrounded by towering walls, with several large packs of Terminids patrolling and standing idle in and around the nest. In the center of the nest is a Mutated Egg nestled within the dead husk of a Bile Titan.
Strategy
The safest method to destroy them is by using an Eagle Airstrike as it will also clear out any chaff spawning, Alternative methods include the EAT-17 Expendable Anti-Tank, GR-8 Recoilless Rifle, LAS-99 Quasar Cannon, AC-8 Autocannon, RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher, GL-21 Grenade Launcher, and MLS-4X Commando are effective weapons to use against them as one shot from each will destroy a single bug hole. Grenades are also a viable choice, preferably standard grenade types. Special Grenade types will not work.
Stratagems such as the several Eagle Airstrike, or Orbital Barrages can also make short work of them in close proximity. A runner can be assigned to deliver the stratagem while the remaining teammates provide cover.
Clearing a nest is a risky endeavor, as dozens of Terminids can spawn en masse and overwhelm Helldivers in the vicinity if not quick enough. Reinforcements and patrols from neighboring nests only add to the difficulty.
Special Nests
Certain types of Terminids spawn only from dedicated nests: