The Wastes

The Wastes are an ontogenetic change in female-bodies pulchra that takes place soon after the production and laying of a clutch. Symptoms include lack of feeding, retraction of skin around the eyes, uncoordinated movement, increased undirected activity, and white lesions on the body. This typically lasts approximately a month before the pulchra succumbs. This change is driven by secretions in the optic gland, located between the eyes that inactivates the salivary and digestive glands. Activation of the optic gland appears to be affected by environmental factors such as light, temperature, and nutrition that ultimately control reproduction and life span. Thus, The Wastes have been attributed to prolonged lack of sunlight, lack of food, and general physiological stress.

Transmission & Vectors

The Wastes cannot be transmitted from one pulchra to another. The Wastes were, upon being seen by Del, assumed to be a contagious disease, but much to the Del's relief, The Wastes are not communicable.

Causes

This change is driven by secretions in the optic gland, located between the eyes that inactivates the salivary and digestive glands. Activation of the optic gland appears to be affected by environmental factors such as light, temperature, and nutrition that ultimately control reproduction and life span. Thus, The Wastes have been attributed to prolonged lack of sunlight, lack of food, and general physiological stress.

Symptoms

Symptoms include lack of feeding, retraction of skin around the eyes, uncoordinated movement, increased undirected activity, and white lesions on the body.

Treatment

There is no treatment, as the current time, for the Wastes. There is anecdotal evidence of pulchra females who abandon their clutches when they feel the onset of the Wastes, but there is no concrete evidence of whether or not these females survive.

Prognosis

Ultimately lethal.

Affected Groups

Female-bodied pulchra who have laid a clutch of eggs. Each successive clutch carries a higher risk of The Wastes.

Cultural Reception

The Wastes are neither stigmatized nor rewarded in pulchra culture. It simply is what it is.

Type

Neurological

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon

Affected Species

• Pulchra