The Worker, also dubbed the Weaver, was an adult form of the Xenomorph species. Evolving from the Xenomorph Drone, the Worker was markedly smaller than other equivalent stages such as the Warrior and the Sentry, and fulfilled the role of building hives and serving the Queen.
Characteristics
The Worker, also known as the Weaver, was a fifth–stage step in the Xenomorph life cycle. Unlike other Xenomorphs of like stripe such as the Sentry and the Warrior the Worker shrank in size from its previous stage, namely the Drone, and would average between 1.2 and 1.8 meters in height. Its color changed from black to grayish white, and its inner jaw became a pink funnel–like tube for excreting hive resin, which the Worker could use its hands and feet to shape. As such, the Worker's responsibilities included building the hive, as well as feeding the Queen and moving eggs within range of captured hosts. Workers did not respond to threats if they arose, and would retreat if directly menaced, leaving the defense of the hive to more capable Xenomorphs. Resultantly, Workers were deemed a zero threat to any human intruders.[1]
Behinds the scenes
NECA's "Albino Alien" figure
The Worker was first mentioned in the script for Aliens, in which they were labelled "Drones". While cut from the film, the caste made an appearance in the novelization and was later inducted into canon in Alien: The Roleplaying Game in 2019.
In 2016, NECA released a figure of an "Albino Alien", based on the albino Drone concept, as part of their Aliens toyline. With the exception of the figure's height being unchanged from the Warrior mold it was retooled from, the figure's appearance matches the description of the newly–named Worker caste given in Alien: The Roleplaying Game.