Description[]
Blood Wasps, commonly named "Red Wasps," are entities bearing close resemblances to conventional wasps within The Frontrooms, distinguished by specific attributes and settings: a bright red or orange color body, distinct habitat, dietary selections, and behavior traits; adult Blood Wasps measure between 5 to 7 centimeters, comprising approximately 0.7% to 1% of the average height of an adult human; when born, they range from 1 to 2 centimeters, constituting 0.14% to 0.28% of the average adult human height, perhaps posing visibility challenges given their size. Some Blood Wasps are seen having a cocoon at the back.
Blood Wasps emit a noise characterized as a combination of a typical wasp buzz and the noise generated by a person gargling waters—as reported by multiple wanderers; the gargling sound is caused by the large amount of saliva they produce. Their speed ranges from 10 km/h to 15 km/h—which is faster than an average human run, thereby making it capable of being avoided when running. Blood Wasps attack Wanderers or beings and consume their blood when they need food; otherwise, they will remain in their hives or habitat. Targeted wanderers should refrain from attempting concealment or physical confrontation with a Blood Wasp due to their exceptional visual acuity and to perceive up to 300 frames per second, 12.5 times more than a usual wanderer.
Blood Wasps have the capability for both asexual and sexual reproduction. The flexibility in reproductive methods allows them to respond effectively to varying levels. Asexual reproduction ensures swift propagation, while sexual reproduction introduces genetic diversity, a noteworthy adaptation considering their limited evolution before the discovery of numerous levels. Blood Wasps typically rest for approximately 8 to 9 hours, a crucial period for survival as they require blood. During this resting phase, the body's demand for blood diminishes, as the Blood Wasp is not engaged in any activities that would necessitate its circulatory system to work actively.
Habitat & Evolution[]
Blood Wasps are commonly discovered in large colonies inhabiting red hives suspended from trees, occasionally found in corners within aged structures. These wasps are typically in outdoor environments characterized by abundant vegetation, particularly trees. Furthermore, they exhibit a preference for tall vegetation, as observed in Levels 10 and 83. Their habitat is typically proximate to regions abundant in prey and noise. Their discovery was outside of Level 11's city when a wanderer found a dead, dried Blood Wasp in September 2020, near a hive possibly under construction by the dead Red Wasp. It, nonetheless, doesn't mean Level 11 has any entities: the Blood Wasp was dead and Level 11 is yet to be home to entities.
At this juncture, the Blood Wasps undergo an evolution to endure the challenges encountered at Level 13; nonetheless, several other levels post the initial entity's revelation have confirmed to make home to Blood Wasps, including Level 10, Level 20, and Level 38; suggesting that they perhaps might spread or potentially possess the knowledge on how to noclip between levels, thereby enabling their evolution without facing eradication: encountering various specimens of Blood Wasps inhabiting different territories or level is crucial for their evolutionary diversity and adaptation to distinct environmental settings. Blood Wasps have already evolved to the point of indistinguishable appearances; a consequence of the specific Level one encounters. It is another reason for the common fight between them.
Variations[]
Given their aforementioned evolution through levels, Blood Wasps have acquired variations; there is only one known variation of the entity, although more mayhaps be discovered.
- Coagulated Blood Wasps: This peculiar variation ascertain how Blood Wasps can evolve fast enough in a level: "[...] Wanderers have reported the sting to be painful; the venom can be lethal for inexperienced wanderers due to its acidic properties. Furthermore, this variation stands out from the rest, attacking each entity that, in its normal form, was once an ally. It fits for the same entity: Coagulated Blood Wasps will attack Blood Wasps, considering them enemies of their own specimens. [...]"[1]
Behaviors[]
When Blood Wasps are hungry, they fly toward nearby Wanderers in groups of 10 to 20 wasps to sting them. Once the Blood Wasps successfully sting the Wanderer, they inject it with a venom of unknown composition that stops the blood clotting process, causing the Wanderer to hemorrhage. After attacking the Wanderer, the Blood Wasps will drink its blood. Blood Wasps typically only engage if necessary: threatened or starving, albeit sometimes they attack for no apparent reason. Blood Wasp's attack behavior towards a Wanderer is variable: some tend to ensure the Wanderer's death before consuming its blood; others opt for inflicting minor wounds and extracting the limited amount of blood the Wanderer has released.
Blood Wasps seem to be passive with any other of them and likely with several other entities, including Deathmoths, Smilers, and rarely Kats. While some evolved Red Wasps may not welcome certain Blood Wasps, including their specimens. Consequently, the affirmation of relationships cannot be precisely determined due to the varying settings of each entity. Given their different evolution, Blood Wasps display diverse living arrangements, ranging from solitary existence to group formations and hive residency. Additionally, their temperament varies widely, with some individuals exhibiting extreme aggressiveness towards anything in their vicinity previously.
Blood Wasps carry diverse behaviors: ways of living, different habitats, different prey, and so forth. Furthermore, some never opt to extract a minimal amount of blood and generally depend on the group by ingesting the blood. This behavior typically manifests when a newly born Blood Wasp cannot venture out in search of food, signaling the initiation of their period of independence within the first months. Blood Wasps exhibit distinct roles based on gender: female Blood Wasps typically attend to the care of newly born individuals, ensuring they remain within the nest, while males oversee hive maintenance. Some choose to acquire a lot of blood to share with other Blood Wasps, necessitating increased caution with those. However, both genders engage in hunting activities as main.
After a Blood Wasp injects its venom into an unfortunate wanderer, it will become fatigued, thus making each sensory function and reaction slower. Consequently, a Blood Wasp will no longer be able to send the venom for a short period. Non-fatigued Blood Wasps endeavor to accumulate a maximal quantity of blood within their hives. This is achieved through transportation in their oral cavities or, over time, through the seldom acquisition of a small cocoon affixed to their backs. Moreover, Blood Wasps tend to mistake Liquid Pain for blood and attempt to consume it. If successful, the wasps succumb to fatality within a brief timespan. Many theorists posit that Blood Wasps may undergo evolution to a stage where they no longer mistake Liquid Pain for blood. Additionally, infrequently, Blood Wasps may engage in attacks on Skin-Stealers and Facelings to feed on their blood. While this action is not detrimental to the wasps—the nutritional properties derived from non-human blood are comparatively lower than those obtained from human blood.
Biology[]
The anatomy of a Blood Wasp contains two dissimilar characteristics from the normal wasps: organs that process the blood of Wanderers into nutrients for the wasp and glands inside their mouths that produce saliva helping conserve the blood and the cocoon helps store blood. Blood Wasp stingers are serrated, thus they can cause more damage and pierce the flesh of their victims more easily. They are unable to lose their stingers when stinging. Blood Wasps need to consume between 4 to 5 milliliters of blood every two or one day to not succumb to starvation. Additionally, the saliva maintains the blood secure concerning diseases.
The Blood Wasps' cocoon is very important to store blood. The blood needs to undergo a specific route through a body's part known as the blood tube until it reaches the cocoon. The blood, while in this process, undergoes a process similar to the kidneys of the human body, cleaning and filtering the blood, thereby making it safer to consume by others Blood Wasps; this process is, sometimes, very painful to sensitive male Blood Wasps; this sensitivity is an evolutionary adaptation possibly linked to their specific role in the filtration process, ensuring the effectiveness of blood-cleansing procedures, and to store more, the effectiveness of survive within the Backrooms. Essentially, the pain serves as a regulatory mechanism, ensuring that the process is occurring efficiently and correctly. Nevertheless, this process is of paramount importance for storing a greater quantity of blood, a task beyond their glands' capabilities. When there is a need to transport blood to the hives, the cocoon features a rear opening that can be manipulated, allowing for easy opening and closing as required.
Blood Wasp venom loses effect 1 hour after being injected and this value increases depending on how much is injected, multiplicating the value. Upon the introduction of an anomalous substance into the human body, the afflicted wanderer—having been injected with the venom—will experience escalating pain over time, and it just gets worse the more venom one gets injected, increasing the hemorrhage. Almond Water and any other resource are unable to undo the effects of the poison. Moreover, the poison makes one susceptible to injuries caused by other entities or external reasons such as hazards, pollution, and illnesses.
Blood Wasps produce—through glands located inside their mouths—a reddish, transparent, creamy substance that has been denominated as "wasp saliva". This substance possesses the unique property of dissolving upon contact with blood, facilitating purification and halting blood decomposition for an undetermined period of time. Consequently, it finds extensive medicinal applications given its efficacy in countering the effects of Blood Wasp venom. Additionally, it has demonstrated therapeutic potential for addressing various blood-related conditions, including anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, thrombosis, hemophilia, clotting disorders, sickle cell anemia, and polycythemia.
Recommended and Unrecommended[]
Recommended[]
It is recommended to stay away from Blood Wasps and their hives, avoiding making loud noises or sudden movements that might expose your position or provoke the wasps. Moreover, if they pursue, one needs to seek refuge by jumping into a deep body of water, such as a pool or pond. In case of an encounter, deploying Liquid Pain on the ground can serve as a distraction, attracting the wasps, prompting them to consume it, and resulting in their demise. If pursued, consider hiding as a last resort, recognizing that Blood Wasps possess heightened sensory capabilities.
Unrecommended[]
Disregarding caution to avoid irritating or provoking Blood Wasps. Making loud noises, sudden movements, or engaging in direct attacks is strongly discouraged. Touching, damaging, or destroying their hives. Actions that may disrupt their natural habitat, provoke defensive responses, or interfere with feeding and reproductive activities. Killing one in front of others due to perhaps infestation.
- ↑ This text has been taken from Level -12: "Labyrinth of Echoes."