The Scissor Tail was one of the many insects that were infected by the t-virus during the Raccoon City outbreak in late September 1998, and was among the many irregular mutants produced by the outbreak.
History
After the t-virus ravaged Raccoon City, the Common Earwig (also known as European Earwig) population, common household pests, were exposed to a secondary infection of the virus both inside and outside of the city. The creature predominantly resided in Raccoon Forest. This large population of Scissor Tails preferred to hide in the dark, damp forest floor, waiting for food to walk by. More were recorded in Raccoon City itself.
Attributes
Like many arthropod-based B.O.W.s the t-virus primarily affects the earwig with a drastic size increase and increase in aggression. The Scissor Tail as such grows to well over 1 meter in length. Originally, earwigs are omnivorous, however the virus has made it develop more of a carnivorous diet. Earwigs like all beetles also possess the ability to fly through the use of membranous wings beneath short forewings, albeit rarely. However, the small forewings of the Scissor Tail did not grow in comparison to its body, rendering it unable to fly at all.
Due to their mutation, they are unable to move very fast, and instead will use their dangerous pincers to attack and corner prey. As its name suggests, it uses its pincers in the same manner as a pair of scissors to slice prey. These pincers also developed a harmful poison as a side effect of the viral infection, which the Scissor Tail has adapted to use in a short period of time. Raising its abdomen, the Scissor Tail uses its pincers in a similar fashion to a scorpion which proved to be a successful hunting technique.