For an overview of bloatfly variants, see bloatfly. |
Bloatflies are insects in the Capital Wasteland in 2277.
Background[]
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]
Game attributes[]
Individually, they do not inflict much damage, but in swarms, bloatflies can be a moderate threat to low-level player characters (especially companions). Their carapaces are not particularly effective as a protection against any type of weapon. However, due to their fast and erratic movement as well as small size, compared to other denizens of the wastes, bloatflies are a challenge to shoot without V.A.T.S. They have a slow speed of pursuit, making it easy to escape from.
Variants[]
Bloatfly[]
Bloatflies are large, mutated blowflies. In significant numbers, they pose a minor threat to high-level player characters, but can prove lethal to those at a low-level.
Name (Form ID) | Statistics | Behavior | Abilities | Items | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bloatfly 0009189C |
|
|
Locations[]
- Bloatflies are found throughout the wasteland, but they are most commonly found in areas nearest to where barrels of toxic material seeps into the soil.
- A large group of bloatflies can be found throughout the entrance area of Vault 92.
- Bloatflies can be found in large number, northeast of Reclining Groves Resort Homes, where they feed off the corpses of some dead wastelanders.
- Bloatflies can also be found between Fort Independence and Fairfax ruins, on the hillside near a collapsed overpass highway.
Notes[]
- Their wings make a soft clicking noise, similar to a giant ant's movement, but fainter.
- On death, they make a high-pitched chattering noise.
- When undisturbed, bloatflies will occasionally lower themselves to the ground and dart around for several seconds.
- If a bloatfly's brain is crippled, it will frenzy. However, this much damage to the creature's head will typically result in its death.
- The Enclave outpost near Megaton has been studying bloatflies among creatures native to the region.
- Bloatflies are one of the weakest creatures encountered in the wasteland, on par with radroaches and trog fledglings.
- In a piece of concept art by Adam Adamowicz, the bloatfly is referred to as a "shrieking blowfly."
- An unused ammunition type called "Bloatfly dart" is present in the games files, with the EditorID of "AmmoBloasflyDart". A model for bloatfly darts also exists.
- The ammo's EditorID contains a typo.
Sounds[]
Bloatfly attack
Appearances[]
Bloatflies appear in Fallout 3.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Insect DNA chalkboard information
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Enclave field research terminal entries; Enclave field research terminal, Field Entry: "Bloatfly"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The 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) - ↑ Cassidy Caravans wreckage
- ↑ 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)