Radroach

Great American Cockroaches, colloquially called radroaches or simply giant cockroaches are obviously giant versions of the regular cockroaches mutated by radiation - there was never any doubt that they would survive a nuclear war. Found mainly in underground areas and sewers, these creatures can usually be found in fairly large groups. They feed on the dead, but will go after living creatures if isolated. Their numbers are usually their greatest advantage. Radroaches live mostly in the areas east of California.

It is said that cockroach guts are actually useful in the treatment of radiation poisoning, and are widely used by tribals for that purpose.

Variations
Radroaches looks similar to real life roaches in the Capital Wasteland, the only mutations they experience being through size, in which they become the size of a housecat. They are typically the weakest enemy in the game, dying from one hit from most weapons, save from a BB gun with very low skills. They are one of the few 'hostile' creatures that will not charge a player, initially, even though marked such on the compass and reticule. In fact, when sneaking, if a Radroach spots the player, the HIDDEN notifier will, more often than not, change to DETECTED, rather than DANGER or CAUTION.

Radroaches will attack, however, if the player seems to threaten them, however, either by having a weapon drawn, encroaching their territory, or attacking them. Generally, they will hiss at you, spreading their wings in warning when they're about to attack. Companions will not attack them until they attack the player.



In Texas, a variation called a "flying roach" can be found. When attacking, they leap through the air and claw or bite a targeted creature - dodge quickly to avoid these flying pests, as they are very mobile. Their appearance is not very cockroach-like and they apparenly have a set of human-like teeth.

Appearances in games
Giant cockroaches appear in Fallout Tactics, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, and were to appear in Van Buren. They were also mentioned in Fallout Bible 1. Radroaches appear in Fallout 3.
 * Two named cockroaches appear in Fallout 3: Fluffy and Jitters