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.
Variants[]
Bloatfly[]
The standard variant, with all of the attributes mentioned above.
Scorched bloatflies have been affected by the Scorched Plague. Each regular bloatfly variant has a corresponding Scorched variant with the same stats, abilities, and items.
↑ 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)