| Darkness Mite | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Naming | |||
| Binomen | N/A | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Acariform | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sentience | Sentient | ||
| Sapience | Non-Sapient (presumed) | ||
| Aggressivity | Extreme | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | Washington | ||
| Habitat | Forests | ||
| Diet | Liquivorous predator | ||
| Locomotion | Eight legs Flying | ||
| Status | DD | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | The X-Files | ||
| Created by | Chris Carter | ||
| “ | Darkness is our enemy. |
” |
— Doug Spinney, "Darkness Falls".
| ||
The "Darkness Mites" are a species of tiny bioluminescent flying woodmites which are known to inhabit the interior of trees, where they can remain dormant for hundreds of years. They form huge swarms and are easily capable of killing a human being.
At least two incidents involving this species were recorded in Olympic National Forest in Washington, the first in 1934 and the second sixty years later, in 1994.
Biology[]
Physically, they look similar to regular mites, but have a luminescent green coloration and are not visible under external sources of light - only in darkness. Fortunately, the mites are also not dangerous when exposed to light, as they only attack when they swarm, and the light prevents them from swarming. Their luminescence is due to the presence of luciferin, the same enzyme found within fireflies and other bioluminescent animals. When the mites attack, they spin a kind of web and use it to trap their prey within a large cocoon-like structure in order to feed upon their fluids. Eventually, nothing is left of the prey other than a desiccated corpse. In the darkness, the swarm behaves with extreme hostility, and is strong enough to lift an adult human from the ground.
History[]
In 1994, Agents Mulder and Scully of the FBI were sent to investigate the disappearance of 30 loggers in Olympic National Forest, Washington. Mulder was interested in the case because it was similar to a previous occurrence in 1934 at the same place. As it turns out, the loggers had cut down a Douglas fir tree that was over five hundred years in age and accidentally released a swarm of these deadly creatures, whose eggs had remained dormant within the tree for centuries. The body of one of the victims was found dried of all its fluids and wrapped in a web-made cocoon around a tree branch.
Appearances[]
- The X-Files, s01e20 - "Darkness Falls" (1994)
Notes[]
- Their mechanism of flight is unclear as those seen on the microscope don't appear to have any wings. It is strongly implied that these were recently hatched, though, so it's likely that the wings develop later.
- While they're referred to as insects throughout the episode, if they are actual mites they should be classified as arachnids. There are no known arachnids capable of powered flight, however.