**Item #:** SCP-8584
**Object Class:** Safe
**Special Containment Procedures:** SCP-8584 must be kept in a chamber with an airlock entrance, to avoid any of the captured specimens from escaping. The room may be viewed at any time from a nearby security room, the security room has access to highly sensitive thermal cameras, and EMF readers, which allow foundation researchers to observe the otherwise invisible specimens.
When using D-Class personal, or even foundation researchers (In rare cases) to view the active effects of SCP-8584 its best to bring in groups of 2 or more, as there are no observed effects on single test subjects. When bringing in groups, they must not be aware of the effects of SCP-8584, or even what they are being tested for. This is because it has been observed that groups of people who are aware of SCP-8584 remain unaffected by it. This is why most experiments do not include foundation researchers, not because SCP-8584 is unsafe by any metric, but because researchers tend to be aware of SCP-8584's effect, and thus, remain unaffected by it.
There is no specific time limit for how long a group of test subjects can remain in SCP-8584's chamber, but it should be made clear that no bug zappers, nets, or any type of insect spray or repellent is allowed in the chamber at any time.
**Description**
SCP-8584 is a species of nearly undetectable flying insect. They are invisible to the naked eye, and can only be detected with EMF readers, and highly sensitive thermal readers, meaning that the creatures give off little to no body heat. The specific type of insect that SCP-8584 is remains unknown, but through observation, has been noted it most closely resembles some type of mix between a butterfly and dragonfly. Experts at the foundation have called this species //Eudaimopteris socialis//. What the insect does is the most interesting aspect of its biology, SCP-8584 or //Eudaimopteris socialis// flies through the air rapidly, searching for groups of humans. When it locates a group of 2 or more people, it hovers above them silently, subtlety affecting brain chemistry, and changing the behavior of those below it. When unsuspecting individuals are "Chosen" by //Eudaimopteris socialis// they experience lower cortisol levels, higher oxytocin levels, and a noteworthy synchronization of gamma brain waves between one another. All these effects combine to make the person much more social and friendly.
Observed test subjects who are unaware of SCP-8584's existence, when placed in a chamber with other people and specimens of SCP-8584, become noticeably more chatty, friendly, and confident. They also leave the test in a much better mood then they were in previously. SCP-8584 almost always improves the mood of those it affects, with subjects often making new friends, and in rare cases, even new romantic partners.
The biology of //Eudaimopteris socialis// is the most anomalous aspect of the species, with its cells naturally bending light to make it invisible, and its ability to manipulate human behavior. It should be noted that SCP-8584 has never been seen eating any form of physical diet. They show zero interest in meat, alive or dead at all stages of decomposition. They ignore fruits, vegetables, and fungi of all species. Even when presented with different types of saps, grains, bloods from various animals, and even toxic chemicals, contained specimens of SCP-8584 show zero interest in any type of physical caloric intake, and, as far as the foundation knows, has no type of mouth or digestive tract.
One theory has been proposed by Dr. Clifton Johnston, which attempts to explain SCP-8584's behavior towards humans, and its refusal of a physical diet. The theory proposes that humans and the //Eudaimopteris socialis// have a symbiotic relationship that humans are completely oblivious to. The //Eudaimopteris socialis// may not need a physical diet, because, according to the leading theory on them, they feed off of __Human social interaction__. Things like brainwaves that spike during conversation, the specific vibrational frequencies of words, and even the subtle chemical changes in our perspiration and saliva, are things that SCP-8584 has evolved to derive energy from. It's possible that the //Eudaimopteris socialis// has been around for as long as humans have, and have utilized our unique social capabilities as a food source, all while subtly encouraging that behavior with precise electromagnetic pulses that stimulate the social cortexes of our brains.
SCP-8584 has been observed to not interact with test subjects that are already in a poor mood or mental state. It's unknown why they don't typically interact with humans that are in a bad mood but its possible that making these people social requires more work, and might even expend more energy than the specimen could derive from the ensuing interaction.
**Discovery**
SCP-8584 was first discovered when the foundation was attempting to study SCP-3008 better known as "The infinite IKEA". A few researchers proposed that the seemingly-infinite space inside the building was the result of a tear in space time, leading to an extraneous dimension of procedurally generated space that mimicked the actual interior of the building, making it look like an IKEA store. A team of theoretical physicists and engineers arrived, and began examining the entrance of the building with high sensitivity thermal imaging technology. When small flutters of heat were detected approximately 14 feet above the group of foundation surveyors it was initially disregarded as "erratic thermal distortions" but when they increased the sensitivity on the thermal readers, it was discovered these small flutters of heat in the air were actually moving with purpose, and there was about 8 of them, all hovering and circling above the group of 11 men.
The foundation quickly captured these small invisible creatures, and currently has 22 of them in a containment chamber at Site-37, a foundation facility containing primarily safe-class anomalies. While it is true that SCP-8584 was discovered at the site of SCP-3008, the foundation has no reason to believe they are at all connected, and SCP-8584 has in fact, been observed to exist globally, which further contributes to Dr. Johnston's theory of them in which they exist alongside the human race, and will be found wherever groups of people are.
[[image https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/sites/news/files/styles/large_image/public/resized_red_admiral_thermograph.jpg?itok=qNdYwfV0]]
++++ A thermal image of SCP-8584
**Experiment Log**
|| Experiment #1 || Upon hearing the hypothesis that //Eudaimopteris socialis// feed on human social interaction, Junior Researcher Robert Thundery began running tests to determine if they derive energy from any other source. He decreased the heat in the chamber to sub-zero temperatures to see if SCP-8584 eats heat itself, there was no effect. He released 2 foundation-owned chimpanzees to see if SCP-8584 can derive energy from any other animals' interactions, there was no effect. over the course of 3 days, the specimens of SCP-8584 slowly descended, seemingly losing the energy to remain in the air, until they all rested on the floor. However, as soon as 2 D-Class personnel entered the room and spoke to one another, every specimen of //Eudaimopteris socialis// shot off the floor and excitedly flew around the top of the room, seemingly filled with energy by only __4 spoken words from 1 D-Class inmate__.|| Conclusion: Human social interaction is the only form of energy intake SCP-8584 is capable of.||
|| Experiment #2 || Foundation researchers tried to figure out if specimens of SCP-8584 could maneuver into indoor spaces, they first constructed a small chamber inside the chamber that stored 22 SCP-8584 specimens, they placed 2 D-Class personnel inside this smaller chamber and instructed them to talk to each other, as soon as the D-Class personnel began conversing, all 22 specimens of SCP-8584 managed to fly into an airhole on the smaller chamber that was a mere 0.2 square inches wide. and despite all being in such a cramped space, they all hovered just above the D-Class personnel, none of them collided with each other, and the D-Class men didn't even realize that 22 flying insects had just flown into a 3-square foot space directly above their heads, at a staggering __44 mph__. || Conclusion: Specimens of SCP-8584 are incredibly fast, can squeeze into incredibly small spaces, and are completely undetectable by anything other than advanced thermal imaging. ||
|| Experiment #3|| When a small team of researchers decided to do an autopsy on a specimen of //Eudaimopteris socialis// they withheld from "feeding" the contained specimens for a 48 hour period, and once they all became starved enough, they fell to the ground in exhaustion. A senior researcher carefully extracted one, using thermal goggles to see the insects, and extracting it from the room with tweezers. when brought to a laboratory, a small team of scientists examined as the creature was weighed to only be .25 grams, and measured to be 1.5 inches tall, with a 2.5 inch wingspan. The specimen was unable to feed on the interaction of anyone in the team, because they all knew of its effects, and could resist the urge to speak to one another. However, before further examination of the specimen of SCP-8584 could go underway, an unknowing Junior researcher entered the room, and when she said "Oops, sorry" to excuse herself, the specimen that was still barely alive, was able to feed off of that small social interaction, and gained the energy to shoot off the examination table and out of the room. That specimen, referred to as SCP-8584-1 is still at large within site-37.|| Conclusion: N/A ||
**Addendum**
SCP-8584 or //Eudaimopteris socialis// remains one of the most peculiar anomalous species under the foundations watch, many things remain unknown, such as the reproductive process of //Eudaimopteris socialis//, as no mating procedure, infant, or even gender difference has been observed. Most likely, //Eudaimopteris socialis// is a genderless species, and since not a single //Eudaimopteris socialis// has ever been perceived to die, there's no reason to believe they even can die.
The theory that //Eudaimopteris socialis// have a symbiotic relationship with humans and have lived alongside us for our entire history has become incredibly controversial among researchers that pay close attention to SCP-8584. While many agree that this is the best theory to explain the existence and behavior of //Eudaimopteris socialis// others recognize the terrifying implications. "This theory implies that SCP-8584 has been manipulating our thought processes and making us act more socially since the dawn of mankind itself" Researcher Leinen writes in a controversial paper, "but if that's true, some say, wouldn't that mean that SCP-8584 is the entire reason humanity grew to become the dominant species on Earth? humans becoming more collaborative and tribe-oriented is what allowed us to break out of the stone age and start the journey to civilization and technology, however, if that was directly caused by SCP-8584, then what are we without them?" This is just one of the many debates that permeate discussion of SCP-8584.
It's also been hypothesized that SCP-8584 reinforces already existing social structures, for example, individuals who are mostly isolated are ignored by SCP-8584, due to them not being able to provide the social interaction the creatures feed on. Inversely, individuals who are predisposed to being more social are actually favored by SCP-8584, because increasing the social drive of a human that has many social interactions would provide more energy for the insects to feed off of. Some researchers have speculated that SCP-8584 may have played a subtle role in the development of human civilization’s social hierarchies, though this remains unproven.
