Scritters are small, scuttling pests that are abundant on the Space Pirate Homeworld. These vermin typically live in dark areas, deep in the recesses of the Space Pirate fortress. Scritters feed on Phazon, which as a result makes them highly poisonous. Their only means of defense is a toxic bite, but since the creatures are helpless on their own, they travel in large swarms to better their chances.
Scritters are often preyed upon by malnourished Space Pirate slaves, who use simple traps to catch and eat them. However, since some of the Scritter's internal organs release highly-toxic fluids, eating them proves to be a huge mistake for the starving Pirates. Those who become seriously ill because of the poison are often said to have a case of "the Scritters".