Shinidamachū

Shinidamachu (死魂虫 Shinidamachū, dead soul insects) are long snake and insect-creatures. They are also referred to as, "(Dead) Soul Collectors." These creatures are a type of shikigami.

Point in Story
The Shinidamachu first appearance is in Kikyo's second appearance after she was resurrected. The Shinidamachu goal is to collects souls and bring them to Kikyo. They gather lost souls of the dead, and give them to Kikyo, so that she may continue her existence in the world of the living.

Creation & Powers
They do not serve for fighting as they were never seen fighting. Despite this, they seem to be strong as 5 of them can lift a person up and fly away with the person. They also can steal the souls of the living, making them the controllers' mindless slave. Additionally, they were seen to be able to bind and immobilize people. At one point in the series, Naraku attempts to kill Kikyo by summoning his own giant Shinidamachu and sends it flying across the sky, collecting all the dead souls, including Kikyo's.

They behave somewhat emotionless, collecting souls for Kikyo and obeying her pleas anytime without hesitation, but they had already displayed some kind of defensive manner, when the giant Shinidamachuu attacked Kikyo, several or her own started attacking the giant Shinidamachu by slamming themselves into it, still, useless due the size and power of the giant Shinidamachu.They also follow Kikyo even inside a barrier that killed them, needing Kikyo to dismiss they for their own safety.

Trivia
. The Shinidama-chuu were confirmed to be shikigami on wikipidia and other wedsites.

. In the english dubb they were refered as soul collecters since they collect souls.

. Kikyo's shinidama-chuu can be heard making high pitched whistling noises simlar to river dolphins.