Wharf roach



A wharf roach (Ligia exotica), sometimes referred to as a sea louse, is a crustacean of the order Isopoda, family Ligiidae. It has a pair of long antennae and large compound eyes on its head, and seven pairs of legs. It lives on seashores and reefs and feeds on algae and dead organisms.

The wharf roaches that inhabited the Big Shell were genetically engineered to help break down spilled oil, representing a promising form of bio-remediation. They were created in a lab to help deal with the frequent oil leaks that occurred in the Big Shell. Their genes had been spliced with those from the oil-eating Pseudomonas bacterium. The roaches produced an enzyme in their bodies that broke down oil, enabling them to absorb and eat oil,. These roaches were the reason why the Big Shell itself was oil-free.

During the 2009 Big Shell Incident, a wharf roach entered the clothing of Solid Snake after he secretly infiltrated the facility. When Snake later took rest following an attack in the transformer room, the roach left his person, arousing the suspicions of Raiden.

Behind the scenes
Sea lice appear in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty in various areas of the Big Shell, including the Deep Sea Dock, the flooded Shell 2 Core, and later, the Shell 1 Core.

Although harmless, sea lice can infiltrate the player's inventory and eat any rations that are being carried; to remove them, the player must quickly cycle through their equipment in the item window. Clearing the game with a sea louse attached to a ration will result in the player being awarded the Sea Louce [sic] code name.

Sea lice can be driven off using the Coolant spray, which is useful for providing passage for the entomophobic Emma Emmerich, during Raiden's mission to escort her through the facility.

Appearances

 * Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty