April 30, 2024

Arthro-Pod EP 158: The Bugs of Fallout

1 hour 31 minutes

Hello vault dwellers and bug lovers! On today's episode of Arthro-Pod, the gang dips their toes into the cultural zeitgeist to talk about the video game/television show "Fallout" and more specifically about the horrible mutated arthropods that exist in that universe. Tune in to hear about the biology of giant "radroaches", feel the sting of the "stingwing", and maybe befriend your own mothman. It's a lot of fun to look at the entomological basis and designs of these critters and hash out which of them are the best from our buggy perspective.

Show notes-

These notes will be most helpful since we are talking about some visual material in this episode! Look below for some pics of each monster we discuss.

RadroachesRadroach from Fallout 4. Via Fallout Wiki.

Radroaches as seen in Fallout: New Vegas. Via Fallout Wiki.

Radroaches as seen in the Fallout television series (Season 1, episode 5: The Past). Via the Fallout Wiki.

BloatflyBloatfly as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Bloatfly as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Bloatfly as seen in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Ants

Giant ant as seen in Fallout 2. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Giant ant workers as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Giant ant queen as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Giant fire ants in action, as seen in the Fallout 3 quest "Those!". Via the Fallout Wiki.

Giant ants as seen in Fallout 76. Notice how the design has changed between games. Via the Fallout Wiki.

RadscorpionRadscorption as seen in Fallout (1). Via the Fallout Wiki.

Radscorpion and albino radscorpion as seen in Fallout 3. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Radscorpions as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Various radscorpions as seen in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Bloodbug

Examples of bloodbugs as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Bloodbug as seen in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.

StingwingStingwings as seen in Fallout 4. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Details of a stingwing tail. Note how it is a stinger instead of clasping organs as in normal scorpionflies. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Stingwing nests, with a yellow honey-like substance. This is not based on real scorpionflies whatsoever. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Stingwings in Fallout 76. The design seems to have suffered quite a bit. Via the Fallout Wiki.

MirelurkA mirelurk, as seen in Fallout 3. This design is kind of a bipedal crab thing. Via the Fallout Wiki.

A mirelurk king, as seen in Fallout 3. This design is more fishman than bipedal crab. Via the Fallout Wiki.

A mirelurk as seen in Fallout 4. This design is more crab centaur. Via the Fallout Wiki.

A mirelurk hunter as seen in Fallout 4. Obviously based on a mantis shrimp, this is somehow the same species as the more crab-like mirelurks. Via the Fallout Wiki.

A mirelurk king as seen in Fallout 4. Another fishman design for the king. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Giant hermit crabA giant hermit crab, as seen in Fallout 4: Far Harbor. One of the most realistic designs we've encountered. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Honeybeast

A honey beast, as seen in Fallout 76. This is a pretty disappointing design considering the other arthropod-based creatures across the series. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Cave cricketA cave cricket, as seen in in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.

MothmanClassic mothman in Fallout 76. Spot on design. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, as envisioned in Fallout 76. Via the Fallout Wiki.

Various mothman designs. The wing patterns appear to be inspired by real moth species. Via the Fallout Wiki.

"I am the night". Via the Fallout Wiki.

Questions? Comments?

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By Jonathan Larson

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