Cerate is the hard exoskeleton that forms the armor for an adult fainwasp. Similar to the hard body of a Beetle, Cerate is a sclerite of Kelrite and covers the thorax, protecting it against harm. Because fainwasps are long extinct, it took some time to learn all this. It was the groundbreaking work of David Anderson that finally pieced together the story of the fainwasp.
Cerate, like kelrite, is very interesting for it's chemical properties. Recent research suggests that both Cerate and Kelrite are psychoactive. In terms of basic structure, they are nearly identical to the pharmaceutical thoramide. Cerate seems to be approximately as potent as Thoramide, and is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia. It has some mild psychedelic effects. Kelrite seems to be a purer, more concentrated version of Cerate, and may be a very powerful psychedelic. Fainwasp eggs are not available for study, but it certainly seems possible that they may be stronger still.
According to all known research, Cerate and Kelrite only occur naturally in the Clark County area. The residents of the area have been in proximity to a large supply of powerful and very dangerous drugs, for as long as anyone has lived there. Now that this knowledge is out there, there have been some reports of abuse by the younger generation, but this may not be a new thing. Many of the first-hand reports of Clark County residents start to make a lot more sense when you consider what Kelrite and Cerate have done to their brains. It's a wonder any of them are sane at all.
-Randy James, "Spruce Street: Debunked!"