The resulting radioactive fallout after the Great War mutated the tiny blowfly into the larger bloatfly menace that is potentially lethal at any range.
Characteristics
Biology
Bloatflies attack at long range by shooting their prey with spine-bedecked larva launched from their abdomens. This supply of larva is seemingly inexhaustible, and unless evaded or eliminated, bloatflies will pursue a target relentlessly. They are covered in a green-brown carapace. Bloatflies typically live in small groups of two to four individuals, but can be encountered on their own. Despite their increased size, they have no difficulty staying airborne.
Game attributes
Individually, they do not inflict much damage, but in swarms, bloatflies can be a moderate threat to low level players and deadly to weak companions. Their carapaces are not particularly effective when trying to protect against any type of weapon, thus they are easy to kill. Due to their erratic movements, bloatflies can be challenging to hit without V.A.T.S.
Variants
Bloatfly
Bloatflies are enormous blowflies with a mean streak. They pose only a minor threat to prepared player characters, but may prove lethal to unwary travelers.
A large group of bloatflies can be found throughout the entrance area of Vault 92. Two other significant locations are northeast of Reclining Groves Resort Homes, where they feed off the corpses of some dead wastelanders, and between Fort Independence and Fairfax ruins, on the hillside near a collapsed overpass highway.
Notes
These creatures are found throughout the wastes but they are most commonly found in areas nearest to where barrels of toxic material seep into the soil.
A bloatfly's wing makes a faint clicking noise, similar to a giant ant's movement, but fainter.
Bloatflies are one of the weakest creatures to come across in the wasteland, on par with radroaches for being the weakest enemies in the game.
On death, they make a high-pitched chattering noise.
The Enclave outpost near Megaton has been studying these and other creatures native to the region.
In a piece of concept art by Adam Adamowicz, the bloatfly is referred to as a "shrieking blowfly".
The Lone Wanderer can shoot and cripple a bloatfly's brain (located between their eyes), which will frenzy it. Although in most cases, this will probably kill it.
