Swarmed

Plot

Kent Horvath, a scientist, develops a new pesticide targeting yellow jacket wasps. He tests it on eight yellow jackets, killing six, but the two survivors develop extremely high pheromone levels and increased aggression. That night, a janitor accidentally releases them, and both wasps attack and kill him. The next morning, his body is found along with one wasp; the other is missing. At the morgue, the mortician hears buzzing from the janitor's mouth and opens it, freeing the second wasp, which stings him to death before escaping. Meanwhile, entomologist Cristina Brown teaches a class about bees. A student recounts being stung by a wasp, after which six or seven others attacked him; she explains that an attack pheromone signals other wasps of a threat. Called to the mortician's death, Agent Doug Heydon informs her about the janitor's death and Kent's research, leading her to investigate a possible link. Kent's exterminator friend Q is called to a yellow jacket infestation. Low on pesticide, he goes to Kent to restock. Kent warns him not to use the experimental pesticide, but Q mixes it with the regular solution and sprays the nest. Kent's analysis of the hyper-aggressive wasp's venom reveals that the pesticide caused a genetic mutation, resulting in incredibly potent venom and hyper-aggression. Meanwhile, the Chief of Police blackmails Mayor Gibson with evidence of covert meetings with Phineas Washburn, owner of Washburn's Tasty Sauce, and a large campaign contribution. The Chief suggests he will reveal this unless he receives a payoff, leaving Gibson furious.