Bloatfly

A bloatfly is a mutated pest resembling an oversized biting horse or common housefly, often found in Appalachia, the Capital Wasteland, the Commonwealth and the Mojave Wasteland.

Background
An example of the mutations caused by the Great War, the bloatfly is an evolution of either the Musca domestica (common housefly) or 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 by the Enclave, it is a major divergence from its evolutionary forebears.

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. 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, causing only localized necrosis. As a result, the bloatfly serves as prey rather than predator among wastelanders who utilize its meat for food. Bloatflies can resort to scavenging in situations where prey or other sources of sustenance are scarce. It adapted to its enlarged size with a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size. The gland itself may be toxic to consume.

Behavior
Bloatflies are a common sight in the wastes, varying in size and exhibiting territorial instincts alongside an absence of self-preservation. They can be found in swarms of two to four and will attack targets relentlessly. Bloatflies may explode upon death.

Variants


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.