SCP-4178
Item #: SCP-4178
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures:
SCP-4178 hives are to be housed in a medium-sized habitat no less then 30 x 30 meters in size. The interior is to be constructed in such a way as to ressemble an underground cavenous formation. One Sus domesticus (domestic pig) is to be introduced into the chamber once per week to feed the colony.
In order to control the population within the hive, an advanced thermal scanner is to be installed inside the chamber to allow a rough estimate of how many instances are within it. A scan is to be done periodically to ensure the hive does not exceed a rough population of 40-45 instances. Maintenance on the scanner is to be done remotely with a drone.
Due to the highly flammable nature of the SCP-4178 webbing and the tendency of the instances to cover every surface with said webbing, controlled removal of excessive webbing is to be done by two Class-D personnel equipped with reinforced apiarist's suit to prevent any potential incident that could endanger the hive. No item capable of producing sparks or generating an open flame are allowed within the chamber.
Description:
SCP-4178 is the collective designation for a species of carnivorous arachnids resembling members of the Araneidae family. Compared to it's non-anomalous counterparts, SCP-4178 instances possess what appears to be the abdomen and wings of large Vespidae1 past the cephalothorax. These attributes are proportional with the rest of the body, resulting in an abdomen and wing span much larger than any existing hornets due to the already large size of SCP-4178 instances. Female instances are noticeably larger than the males, a common trait seen in regular spiders and most wasp species.
SCP-4178 instances are able to produce venom in both their stingers and fangs, with the stinger venom noted to be much more potent than the venom in the fangs. Contrary to normal wasp species, male SCP-4178 instances do possess a stinger that they use for hunting and incapacitation. No other sexual dimorphism was noted between the male and female instances.
SCP-4178 instances are social arthropods that live in large nests. To establish a nest, several individuals will seek out a place they deem safe enough to start reproducing. SCP-4178 instances don't seem to have specific criteria to establish nests as the locations have ranged from cramped caves to an entire apartment complex. Once a nest is established, the instances will use their spinnerets to cover the walls with a webbing similar in texture and appearance to a common wasp nest. Once the webbing has solidified, the resulting material was noted to be comparable to hardened wood. SCP-4178 nests seem to constantly emit a "scent" that draws more SCP-4178 to it's location, integrating the hive. Instances were noted to cover each other with a derivative of their web to help blend in with the walls of the hive. If left untouched, an SCP-4178 nest could continue to expand and grow to dangerous proportions.
Once an instance has spotted potential prey, it will emit pheromones that attract any nearby instances to it's location. SCP-4178 instances were noted to carefully examine the subject from a distance, seemingly "sizing it up" to figure out wether there is a risk. If they decide to attack, the instances will swarm the victim and repeatedly sting it until the venom takes effect. Once paralysed, and if enough instances are around, the victim will be taken back to the nest after which the instances will begin to encase it in a sort of cocoon. To do this, SCP-4178 instances make use of spinneret glands located at the tip of their abdomen under the stinger. This process tends to take up to 40 minutes for humans; larger prey can take up to an hour to be fully covered by the webbing. Solidification of the cocoon usually takes up to 15 minutes. After solidifying, the web takes the same appearance as the walls of the SCP-4178 nest that surrounds it. Unlike regular eusocial wasps, it appears that SCP-4178 hives do not possess any semblance of a "queen". [See Addendum 4178.2]
Once a cocooned victim is brought to the nest, one of two things can happen:
- The most common occurence is the cocoon serving as a food source, several instances will bite the paralysed victim and inject them with special enzymes that liquify the inside of the victim. Analysis of cocooned specimens shows that the cocoons preserve the body for long period of times even after death. It is believed that the cocoon does this to avoid the food from rotting and potentially attracting pests to the nest that could feed on the young. It is unknown how the cocoons created by SCP-4178 are capable of this.
- A female instance, that has been preemptively impregnated by a male, will proceed to implant fertilized eggs within the cocoon using a specialised ovipositor similar to regular parasitoid species of wasps. The eggs are carefully placed on top of the paralysed victim who, at this point in time, is still conscious albeit in a suspended state. Up to twenty eggs can be placed in a cocoon formed from a human host, these eggs will take between two to three weeks to hatch. Once hatched, the spiderlings will begin to eat the host before emerging from the cocoon, leaving whatever scraps of food that weren't eaten to the adults.
Addendum Compound LP-4178:
Compound LP-4178 is a black fluid similar in texture to thickened blood. When consumed by itself, Compound LP-4178 does not have any particular effects on the human body, being reported of having a chewy texture and possessing an after-taste similar to peanut. However, it was discovered that excessive consumption over a short period of time will lead to the subject's blood thickening exponentially, leading to blood clots and similar health issues. Compound LP-4178's main use reveals itself when combined with freshly laid SCP-4178 eggs, resulting in a very powerful recreational drug similar to heroin.
The resulting mix has to be injected into one of the subject's veins to take effect. Once injected, the eggs within the compound will almost immediatly hatch upon contact with the subject's blood-cells. The newly hatched instances, now labelled SCP-4178-A, will make their way to the host's spinal cord and brain. Once these are reached, the instances will latch and partially fuse onto them before releasing unknown chemicals. During this process, subjects have reported feeling a surge of pleasurable sensations the intensity of which varied depending on how many instances were injected and how rapidly they reached the brain. This surge is usually accompanied by occasional hallucinations, clouded mental functions and eventually addiction.
CT Scan showing two SCP-4178-A instances.
Once the subject becomes a host for SCP-4178-A instances, they have to periodically take unaltered Compound LP-4178 or otherwise risk dangerous withdrawal side-effects. Compound LP-4178 acts as a deterent to halt SCP-4178-A's growth in the host as well as continuously release it's chemicals. Subjects with recorded long-term use of Compound LP-4178 have reported that the intensity of the effects grows with continuous usage. Some have reported not feeling in control of their body at times, reporting that they felt as if they were watching someone puppeteering their body. Auditory hallucinations were also reported by several subjects, stating have heard whispers and even voices talking to them.
Should the subject stop the regular intake of Compound LP-4178, the SCP-4178-A instances will begin to grow rapidly in size over a period of several weeks. Signs and symptoms of withdrawal include: anxiety, restless legs syndrome, headaches, nausea, excessive sweating, and acute pain. Once the instances have become too large for the host, they will attempt to break out by piercing the skull and/or back, leading to the death of the subject.
Research is currently on-going to find a way to remove the SCP-4178-A instances while ensuring the safety of the host. Usage of special chemicals that would kill the instances when injected is currently being explored.
Addendum 4178.2 "Los Cuidadores":
Further investigation on the origins of the crates found by the Foundation lead to a secluded mountainous region in the Province of León, Spain. Within the region exists the culturaly isolated village of A█████.
CV.35 L.f. ‘Lanzallamas compacto’, stationed near A█████ - 1938
During the majority of it's existence, A█████'s economy was primarily built around farming and coal mining as well as maintaining a self-sufficient culture which seemed to shun outside interference when not needed. During the Spanish Civil War, a small tank division was stationed near the village. Following the war, most of the vehicles were abandoned and repurposed by the villagers for usage in the mine.
On the 21st of May 2004, Esteban Salvador, resident doctor of the village, unknowingly approached foundation personel who were posing as spanish authorities regarding recent strange occurences regarding their village. Citing the arrival of unknown hooded figures and a sudden shift in behavior by the villagers after their arrival. The following are the translated transcripts of the interaction: