Those with invisible wings are not necessarily angels! Take this rove beetle for example...

On January 6, 2006, the song "Invisible Wings" was released, and people remembered Zhang Shaohan's angelic voice. But long before that, there was a small insect with truly invisible wings that had existed on Earth for more than 200 million years. Even if you kill it, its body fluids can cause your skin to ulcerate. The unbearable pain and ugly scars make people avoid it! It is the rove beetle!

1. Understanding Paederus

Rove beetles, also known as green-waisted beetles and shadow beetles, are named for their waists that are higher than those of ants, their elytra are very short, and their hind wings are retracted under the elytra and are not easily noticed except when flying. There are many species of rove beetles, which are divided into more than 30 subfamilies, 3,783 genera, and 64,623 species. More than 20 subfamilies, 578 genera, and 6,530 species are known in China, and the number of species has been increasing at a rate of 300 to 400 species per year in recent years.

Image source: Baidu

1. Appearance characteristics

Most are slender, small, with parallel sides, black head, wings, abdomen and tail, orange-yellow prothorax, abdomen and legs, shaped like a medium ant, generally less than 3 mm, and no more than 2.5 cm. Most species have short and thick elytra, about the same length as width, and well-developed hind wings that can quickly unfold from under the elytra when taking off. After flying, the tail twists up and down, and with the help of the abdomen and legs, the wings are retracted and folded, and then hidden under the elytra again.

2. Living habits

Rove beetles have a wide distribution range. Adults generally have wings, and most species can fly. They breed mostly in hidden and humid environments. Different species of rove beetles have different feeding habits, which can be roughly divided into saprophagous, herbivorous, flower-eating, fungi-eating, and carnivorous. They overwinter as adults. From June to October every year, it is the peak season for rove beetle dermatitis, which coincides with the breeding season of rove beetles. Rove beetles are phototactic and altitude-oriented. Rove beetles that enter the room can go for several days without eating. They often stay on the ceiling, walls, furniture and clothing surfaces, and on the human body, causing continuous damage to the human body.

2. The harm of rove beetles

There are 538 species and 30 subspecies of poisonous rove beetles that can cause dermatitis reported worldwide. In China, there are 72 species and 2 subspecies of poisonous rove beetles (genus). Among them, the most common are the three main species, namely the yellow-legged poisonous rove beetle (Spindle poisonous rove beetle), the black-legged poisonous rove beetle (Tower poisonous rove beetle) and the strange poisonous rove beetle. The culprit of rove beetle dermatitis in Chongqing in recent years is the yellow-legged poisonous rove beetle.

Each segment of the rove beetle contains toxins, which are a venomous juice similar to strong hydrochloric acid (pH 1-2). In addition, it contains three known toxins, namely, paederin, pseudo-paederin and paederone. The peak of rove beetle dermatitis is usually in August and September when rove beetles are actively breeding. Under the mediation of light, rove beetles enter the house through loose doors and windows and then land on people's exposed skin and crawl, causing a strange feeling. When people intentionally or unintentionally slap, crush or rub the skin with their hands, the venom overflows and sticks to the skin and hands, causing multiple parts of the skin to directly or indirectly contact the venom, causing multiple serious allergic reactions and causing serious chemical damage.

Principles for handling after an attack

1. Cleaning: Wash the damaged skin repeatedly with soapy water promptly and thoroughly, wipe the damaged skin with 4% soda solution or 10% ammonia water to neutralize toxins. Do not use strong alkaline solutions to avoid secondary chemical burns.

2. Go to the dermatology department of a regular hospital for diagnosis and treatment. It is not recommended to go to the pharmacy to buy medicines and treat it yourself. Do not use gentian violet solution or external oils to avoid aggravating the condition. Cortisone, antihistamines and antibiotics are not helpful for skin lesions, so avoid using them indiscriminately!

4. How to prevent rove beetles?

(1) When you find a rove beetle, do not pat or rub it with your hands. Instead, gently blow it off or shake it off to avoid the poison spilling and damaging the skin.

(2) Remove clutter inside and outside the room and keep it as clean and tidy as possible.

(3) Install screen doors and windows at home to act as physical barriers.

(iv) Do not play with your mobile phone in the dark. Turn off the lights when going to bed at night. Check whether there are rove beetles on your bed before going to bed to avoid direct contact between exposed skin and the insects.

(V) Wear long sleeves when going out, especially in damp outdoor environments. Be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants, or use some repellents, such as DEET and picolinate, to apply on exposed parts to prevent rove beetles from attacking people.

Source: Chongqing Science Writers Association

Author: Zou Jingbo, chief technician, Hu Xiaobo, doctor, Xu Shibin, chief physician, Chongqing Yongchuan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Audit expert: Li Hanbin

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