6 red-licorice whips (approximate)
24 soft caramel candies (e.g.  Brachs)
6 oz. semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips (1 cup)
for decorations: colored sprinkles red hots sliced almonds assorted decors and dragees

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper.

Cut licorice into small pieces.  Use your hands to flatten each caramel into a small oval.  Press bits of licorice onto 12 of the flattened caramels to make legs.  Top each with a second caramel and press edges to seal.  Put on prepared baking sheet.

Put chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave on high 1 minute.  Stir and then microwave on high 1 minute longer.  Remove from oven and stir until melted.

Soon melted chocolate over each candy.  Decorate with nuts and candy.

Makes 12 bugs.  Total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Notes:

"Twislers" red licorice pulls apart nicely into small strands for the legs the caramels can be softened slightly by microwavings at 24 caramels at once for 10-30 seconds.  The bugs can be coated by dipping them into the chocolate using a plastic fork with the middle tangs removed.