The Rove Beetle

The rove beetles are a family (Staphylinidae) of beetles. With roughly 63,000 species in thousands of genera, the group is currently recognized as the largest extant family of beetles. In the family there are over 20,000 species around the world. Most species are like termites, with body length around 0.5 to 1cm. Some may be as large as 2cm or less than 0.3cm.

Skin inflammation caused by body exposure to pederin toxin from rove beetles:

Prevention:

• It happens mostly in early summer, especially during the wetness after raining.Thus, it is suggested to turn off the lights when sleeping in the clear & cool summer nights. This can avoid the beetles because the insects have phototaxis and are attracted to light in the dark.
• Avoid moving around in the wild or on the grass. Wear covered clothing or apply insect repellent if forced.
• While sleeping, turn on the air-conditioner instead of opening the window. For energy conservation, use mosquito net or reduce body exposure to avoid getting attacked by beetles.
• When a beetle lands on you, do not beat it or a large amount of toxin will be spilled out. Blow it off or gently remove it with tissue papers. This can keep you away from beetle poisoning and you can also have a wonderful summer.