For an overview of bloatfly variants, see bloatfly.
“One of the Wasteland's most disgusting creatures, the Bloatfly shoots its maggots as projectiles, and often explodes upon death.”— Fallout 4 loading screen
An example of the mutations caused by the Great War, the bloatfly is an evolution of either the Musca domestica (common housefly)[1] or Tabanus genera of biting horse fly.[2] Tentatively classified as part of the Tabanidae family in the order Diptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda and kingdom Animalia by the Enclave, it is a major divergence from its evolutionary forebears.[2][3]
Characteristics
Biology
The standard bloatfly has a green and brown carapace and is significantly larger and more tenacious than its predecessors. Its size inhibits previous 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.[2] 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.[2]
Its neurotoxin is ineffective against humans and larger targets, causing only localized necrosis.[2] As a result, the bloatfly serves as prey rather than predator among wastelanders who utilize its meat for food.[2] Bloatflies can resort to scavenging in situations where prey or other sources of sustenance are scarce.[4] It adapted to its enlarged size with a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size.[5] The gland itself may be toxic to consume.[3][6]
Gameplay attributes
Bloatflies attack at long range by peppering their prey with spine-bedecked larva launched from its abdomen. They tend to attack in groups, and may pose an additional threat based on their ability to attack from a distance. Bloatflies in the Commonwealth will crawl on surfaces and display more aggression than their counterparts in other wastelands. Although they generally attack at long range, at times they will fly close to their target. They can be found near bodies of water and throughout swampland, often attacking alongside bloodbugs and stingwings.
Variants
Bloatfly
The standard variant, common throughout the Commonwealth. Usually found in groups of up to three.
A slightly stronger variation, likewise frequently traveling in a group. Featuring a darker carapace, this variant is sometimes seen with other creatures such as stingwings or bloodbugs.
Glowing bloatflies are a hardier variant whose body emits a green glow caused by massive radiation exposure. Upon death a glowing bloatfly will explode with irradiated matter causing radiation damage to nearby life forms and may even damage and irradiate nearby crops giving them a radioactive glow.
Bloatflies are often seen stationary, clinging to objects such as trees, walls, and pipes. They also can be found in sewers, in homes and buildings, or in parks or wooded areas.
Bloatflies and bloodbugs do not seem to be hostile towards each other and will attack the player character at the same time.
When the Sole Survivor is attempting to pacify a bloatfly utilizing the Wasteland Whisperer perk, they will address the creature by saying, "Hey, buzz buzz." In order to have the bloatfly attack on their behalf, they will make insect buzzing noises and then yell, "Kill! Infest!" When giving commands to the bloatfly, they will say, "There's a good fly."[7]
Bloatfly larva syringes can be used to farm legendary bloatflies. The bloatflies themselves are the source of materials for the syringe.
↑ 3.03.1The Sole Survivor: "Sign me up." Doctor Duff: "You're going to go out, and find a Bloatfly Gland. You see, the oversized Bloatfly of today evolved from an earlier species of smaller fly. Radioactive adaptation has resulted in a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size. So what do you say? Ready to go out and dissect one?" (Doctor Duff's dialogue)
↑Sole Survivor: "Sign me up." Doctor Duff: "You're going to go out, and find a Bloatfly Gland. You see, the oversized Bloatfly of today evolved from an earlier species of smaller fly. Radioactive adaptation has resulted in a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size. So what do you say? Ready to go out and dissect one?" (Doctor Duff's dialogue)
↑The Sole Survivor: "Get the Bloatfly Gland. Got it." Doctor Duff: "Remember, bring the gland back in one piece. Oh, and don't chew on it. One of the students got horribly sick because of that mistake." (Doctor Duff's dialogue)
