Weevil (Torchwood)

Weevil

from the series: Torchwood

"Weevils are thought to be extraterrestrial in origin, but a population of a few hundred live in the sewers of Cardiff, having travelled through a spacetime rift running through the city. They usually live off sewage, but occasionally one will go rogue, come to the surface and attack humans using their sharp fangs. They typically are seen wearing Torchwood embroidered boiler suits, so it is probable that they frequently escape from the facility. In "Everything Changes", a Weevil kills a hospital porter, but is captured and imprisoned in the Torchwood Hub. Jack also states that the frequency of these attacks has been increasing, but the cause is still as yet unknown. In the Torchwood Declassified episode accompanying "Combat", John Barrowman speculates that Weevils attack humans out of fear that they will be lured into the Weevil fight clubs. The tie-in website, a fictional radio station DarkTalk.co.uk features call-ins from Cardiff locals who have begun to notice the existence of the Weevils.

The Torchwood website states that 1930s New York suffered an infestation similar to the Weevil infestation of Cardiff, which was covered up by rumours of sewer crocodiles. The Torchwood website also speculates they may have been in the sewer pipes of 4th century Byzantium, where they were described as "crocodile-like creatures." (wikipedia)

 

Biology

"Weevils were roughly humanoid in shape and size, but were a bit taller and had flattened faces with many sharp, fang-like teeth. Though faster and stronger than humans, they were not extraordinarily powerful and could be injured with electricity, brute force or by Torchwood's anti-Weevil spray. Due to its constant use, Weevils began to develop a resistance to the spray.

Though not quite cold-blooded, Weevils had a much lower body temperature than humans. Weevils had an advanced digestive system, allowing them to eat almost anything, though they preferred meat. They had powerful teeth and killed by ripping out the throat.

Their digestive system was connected to their circulatory system, meaning that anything that got in it would eventually be digested. The Pharm was able to extract a pesticide and a powerful defoliant from the Weevils." (source)

Culture

Despite their violent actions, Weevils were at least partly intelligent. They wore clothing, had a basic social order and mourned the pain and loss of other Weevils.  When they first arrived from the rift they wore "half-clothing", but inevitably acquired human-made suits and garments. They also treated their dead with respect and were not cannibals. They would mourn the deaths of other Weevils by whistling.  Despite this, they were unable or unwilling to communicate with humans. When feeding on humans, they tended to hide the remains in the same place until they ran out of room.

The Weevils worshipped the Duroc, the Resurrection gauntlet that created it, and Owen Harper after he was brought back by the gauntlet. (source)