An impressive example of the mutations caused by the Great War, the bloatfly is an evolution of the Tabanus genera of biting horse fly. Tentatively classified as part of the Tabanidae family in the order Diptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda, and kingdom Animalia, it is a major divergence from its evolutionary forebears. It is significantly larger and more tenacious, although its size inhibits its flight characteristics and agility, making it impossible to feed like pre-War horse flies did. Instead, it uses its engorged stinger and pupae gestating within its abdomen to incapacitate prey. The stinger is capable of launching mature larvae with a barbed sting at the end. These latch onto the target and deliver a neurotoxin capable of incapacitating larger prey, allowing the bloatfly and its larvae to feed. Its neurotoxin is ineffective against humans and larger targets, with localized necrosis being the only larger complication. As a result, the bloatfly is frequently prey, rather than predator, particularly among wastelanders who learned how to prepare its meat (or can stomach eating it raw).[1] Some are noted to explode upon death.[2] Bloatflies can resort to scavenging in situations where prey or other sources of food are scarce.[3]
Behavior
Bloatflies are a common sight in the wastes, exhibiting strong territorial instincts and an absence of any sense of self-preservations. They usually travel in packs of two to four and attack other living targets relentlessly, using their larvae to try and paralyze them from afar. They are easily dispatched with any kind of weapon, however.
The bloatfly is a giant mutated blowfly. Bloatflies attack at long range by peppering their prey with spine-bedecked larva launched from its abdomen. They tend to attack in groups, and their ability to attack from a distance can make them significantly more dangerous than radroaches.
Notes
Bloatflies can also be seen as a smaller species found around dead carcasses. It is not known why these did not mutate to a larger size.
When killed by the player character at higher levels they will give no experience points, much like the radroach.
Research by the Enclave suggests that the bloatfly is a mutation of the tabanus horse fly.
↑Fallout 4 loading screen hints: "One of the Wasteland's most disgusting creatures, the Bloatfly shoots its maggots as projectiles, and often explodes upon death."
