A telepathic recorder was an jewel-like object or device that was essential to Vespiforms, containing part of their mind. It could be imprinted by intense and emotional thoughts, even by humans, and thereafter contained a sort of essence of personality or motivation to guide the Vespiform. Vespiform had a strong tendency to keep their telepathic recorders close, even if that meant that they would havve to enter a dangerous situation, and if the telepathic recorder was destroyed, the Vespiform died as well.