Beetle blades are small metal creatures made by WICKED, presumably to spy on the Gladers. They only exist in the book. They have a silver, cylindrical body about 3 inches in diameter and 10 inches in length, with 12 jointed legs running the length of their body. A bright, blinding red light is emitted through the beetle's eye, and the word "WICKED" is "smeared across the torso" as if it "had been written in blood." They were common in the Maze but also appeared in the WICKED headquarters.
The Gladers guessed that the beetle blades contained cameras that allowed the Creators to spy on them.