 | This is a lore summary, presenting intradiegetic or in-universe information about the subject. For game characteristics and similar data, consult the table on the right. |
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Giant ants are a low-level hostile creature commonly found in Fallout games.
Background[]
These mutated arthropods, of order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae, and genus Camponotus (commonly called carpenter ants) were exposed to large levels of radiation. However, what really caused this rapid evolution and adaptation to the wasteland, creating what is known as a giant ant[1] ("big fucking ant" to some)[2] was exposure to Force Evolutionary Virus lingering in the fallout.[3] Their increased mass and strength makes them highly dangerous to large prey and even humans, as their mandibles are capable of cutting through leather, plastic, and even bone. Their exoskeleton can shrug off punches and most kinds of blunt trauma, but remains vulnerable to firearms and sharp weapons. Great ants are also quite sensitive to antennae trauma. Damage to their primary sense organ reliably sends them into a frenzy, attacking anyone and anything in the vicinity.[4] Like their forebears, ants have a strong swarm instinct and will attack prey in packs or double-down to protect the nest if their queen is threatened in any way.[5]
Variants[]
Giant ant[]
The common variant of a giant ant, without a specialized role in the swarm.
Giant ant queen[]
The heart of the swarm, a giant ant queen is significantly larger than drones and soldiers and capable of spitting acid at attackers. However, her large size renders her largely immobile, while the wings are little more than a vestigial limb, capable of threat displays, but little beyond that.
Giant soldier ant[]
Soldiers are tasked with protecting an ant colony against threats. They are commonly found in colonies and attack with reckless abandong to drive off or kill their target. Soldiers frequently protect drones while they work or forage.
Giant worker ant[]
The drones of the colony, responsible for labor and maintenance.
Invader ant[]
A pair of invader ants trying to take over the colony of mutated forager ants in Shalebridge tunnels.
Mutated forager ant[]
A common variety of drones found in Shalebridge.
Giant albino ant[]
A mutated variety found in the Hoover Dam Scum Pits, an albino ant is distinguished by its pale yellow, almost white exoskeleton, glowing red eyes, and glowing green mandibles dripping with acidic saliva (also green). A small number of those made their lair in the office section of the generator rooms, preying on the rats infesting the lower levels.[6]
Giant albino ant queen[]
The queen of the albino ant colony in the generator rooms of Hoover Dam, the giant albino ant queen is found in the ant hive. Unlike drones and soldiers, only the abdomen of the queen is pale yellow.
Behind the scenes[]
- Giant ants draw on the legacy of classic black and white horror movies, especially Them!.
Appearances[]
Giant ants appear in Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, the Nuka-World DLC for Fallout 4, J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game, and were due to appear in Van Buren. A friendly giant ant called Mr. Pinch is used as a mount by the Puppet Man in the official One Man, and a Crate of Puppets comic by Penny Arcade.
Gallery[]
Fallout 3 concept art.
Animated giant ant from Fallout 2.
See also[]
References
- ↑ Vault 101 terminals; Overseer's Terminal, Report 2241-02-10: "We encountered a group of monstrous ants which appeared to confirm Mackay's theories of mutation due to extended exposure to radiation. We drove off the ants with gunfire and collected several specimens for study upon return to the vault (see Exhibit A)."
- ↑ Chosen One in Broken Hills
- ↑ Fallout Bible 1
Fallout Bible 0: "3. Are the radscorpions a product of the FEV virus? When you talk to the doctor, Razlo, in Shady Sands, he tells you that they were once American Emperor Scorpions but that he has no idea how they mutated because radiation alone couldn't have done it. For that matter, what about all of the other creatures of the wasteland? Which ones have been mutated by FEV and which ones haven't? Maybe in the bestiary each creature could have a stat that shows it's level of FEV infection."
"Answer:- The radscorpions are a result of a combination of radiation and the FEV virus, and Razlo in Shady Sands is correct - they were originally Emperor Scorpions that have grown... big.
- FEV-Infected Critters in the wasteland include almost all the ones you've seen in F1 and F2:
Mantises.
Most species of rats.
Gecko lizards.
Brahmin
Scorpions
Ants
Various varieties of plants, including the Venus Flytrap.
Rumor has it some dogs were affected, but no one's seen any, so for now that's just rumor. Of course, the centaurs are a mash of human, dog, and various other parts... but hey, who knows how that mutation came about. Grey was probably messing around in one of his labs. - Creatures not mutated by FEV probably did not survive the aftermath of the Great War, with the possible exception of cockroaches... and perhaps normal ants, though there are FEV-infected versions of these species.
- No one knows where those bird noises in Vault City came from.
- I'll try to include a chart of FEV-infected creatures in future additions as well as other critters that you may not have seen in F1 and F2. Most likely a great majority of insects were affected (they tend to breed much faster, and their mutations tend to become evident pretty quickly as the generations advance), possibly beetles, some spiders, cockroaches, and other creatures."
- ↑ Enclave field terminals; Enclave Field Research Terminal (silo outpost), Field Entry: Giant Ant: "Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Camponotus
I've determined with near certainty that the aboriginal Ants are of the genus Camponotus. My best guess would be that a majority of the ants encountered are black carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus). However, given that this particular genus consists of over a thousand different species, classification has been difficult. Prior generations of the genus were only considered a nominal threat to humans, but their social and fiercely territorial nature, combined with the greatly increased mass of current varieties has made them extraordinarily dangerous. The antennae of the ant is the primary sense organ, and soldiers report disabling this to be a successful tactic, as it sends the ant into a frenzy whereupon it attacks anything nearby, human or ant." - ↑ Simple critters, Giant Ant: "Giant ants are nothing to be laughed up. What they lack in individual fortitude, they make up for with relentless attacks and swarm tactics. Their exoskeleton isn't particularly thick, but it can turn aside weak punches and dull knives. Their mandibles can cut through most leather and plastic with ease, even snapping bone on a lucky shot. Giant ants become particularly aggressive when their queen is threatened."
- ↑ Hoover Dam design document/1#Former Generator Rooms
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