Is it true that rove beetles are highly venomous and can be fatal?
The rove beetle is also known as the shadow bug, green-waisted bug, green ant, etc. It gets its name because its wings are not visible. It resembles a termite, with a body length of about 0.5 to 1.0 cm. Its body is orange-yellow, while the head, thorax and tail are iron-blue. Southern regions, including Sichuan, are important distribution areas for rove beetles, while they are less common in the north. Now let us take a look at whether rove beetles are truly highly venomous and fatal!
Is it true that rove beetles are highly venomous and fatal?
It is not true that rove beetles are highly venomous and fatal. It is understood that incidents of venomous rove beetles injuring people have been reported in many domestic media outlets. Media in southern provinces such as Guangxi, Hunan and Hubei have all reported incidents of venomous rove beetles injuring people, but the symptoms are generally mild and not fatal. In fact, it can be said that cases of venomous rove beetles biting people "have always existed," but it is not like what is said on Weibo or WeChat that once bitten you are "done for," so there is no need to panic.
How strong is the toxicity of rove beetles?
There are 20 species of venomous rove beetles reported worldwide that can cause dermatitis, and only 3 are known in China, namely the yellow-legged venomous rove beetle, the black-legged venomous rove beetle and the strange venomous rove beetle. All body segments of the venomous rove beetle contain toxins. When it rests on the skin and is pressed or slapped or crushed, it releases strongly acidic venom that burns the skin. After an incubation period of several hours to 2 days, skin damage can appear, causing rove beetle dermatitis. Although the venomous rove beetle does cause disease, it is generally not enough to kill a person.
How is rove beetle dermatitis treated?
1. Rinse with plenty of clean water. Clean water can dilute the venom and reduce the burning sensation of the skin.
2. Rinse the skin with a certain proportion of potassium permanganate solution, normal saline, or a certain proportion of sodium bicarbonate solution.
3. If conditions permit, the wound can be cleaned with alkaline soapy water. Acid-base neutralisation can relieve skin discomfort.
4. When using calamine lotion, it is recommended to first prick the pustules open and dry them, then apply calamine lotion, applying it 3 to 5 times per day.
5. Take oral Xisimin or chlorpheniramine. These medications are recommended to be taken under a doctor's guidance; do not take medication on your own.
6. After local disinfection, apply anti-allergy Dexamethasone Acetate ointment or Wuji ointment, but the ointment must not be applied directly to the wound.