TUESDAY TALKS WITH GBEMI BEWARE OF ROVE BEETLES!!!

TUESDAY TALKS WITH GBEMI
BEWARE OF ROVE BEETLES!!!
Hello TTB lovers, welcome to another edition of Tuesday Talks With Gbemi. So today, makes it a week since I was stung by the rove beetle and trust me, the experience was not pleasant at all. Infact, I had a rough week battling with the aftermath of the incident and so today, I'll be enlightening us on this insect.
The Rove beetle commonly known as "skirt and blouse" is a red/orange and black coloured insect that can be found in virtually every habitat, It usually lives near drainage lines and watercourses. During the daytime, rove beetles can be seen crawling around on the ground, with their wings hidden, and can resemble ants. Adult rove beetles are predators of other insects and at night are frequently encountered around light sources, hence while it is also referred to as the "electric insect".
 Rove beetles do not bite or sting but their blood contains a strong toxin called pederin​ that can cause skin and eye irritations. If you crush the beetle the toxin is released and absorbed by your skin. The beetle can be crushed if you swat it like a fly or mosquito or if it collides with you at speed (such as bare skin on a motorbike) and can cause conjunctivitis, severe dermatitis (rash) and serious skin irritation.
Initial symptoms include reddening of the skin, and a 'burning' sensation. This is followed by painful irritation and itching, and can later develop to blistering of the skin afterwards. The affected areas remain irritated, blistered and sore for  about 7-10 days. Toxin on the hands, or exposure near body joints, can spread toxin to other areas of the body and to others.
Rip protect yourself from the beetle, avoid contact, wear long sleeves clothing to minimise exposure to skin, use insecticides or mosquito nets/tents. If a rove beetle come in contact with the skin, do not swat or crush, blow it off and wash off affected area with soap and water immediately. The toxin slowly penetrates the skin. Washing shortly after exposure will remove much of the toxin before it has time to harm the skin. You can then apply cold compresses or aloe Vera to the affected area. If irritation occurs, seek medical attention.
Post by: Ojole Omogbeminiyi Rotade
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