Monday September 13, 2010, The StarTurn off lights to keep rove beetles away
HOUSE owners are urged to switch off the lights whenever possible as it is now rove beetle season.
Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) special squad head M. Raju said the orange-black rove beetle’s habitat was being disturbed because of the padi harvesting period.“The rove beetles, which are attracted to lights, are only active at night. So switch off the lights, especially in the bedroom.”
The unwelcome ‘visitors’ had caused havoc in recent years. Victims have suffered severe inflammation on their faces or other body parts after coming into contact with the beetles.The secretion of the rove beetle is poisonous and acidic. Sightings of the beetles have been reported in several places on mainland Penang such as Prai and Bukit Mertajam. Those tiny creatures were the same ones which had caused some people to go blind in Africa.
He said those who happened to have skin contact with the beetle should wash the area with salt water immediately.The fluid, known as pederin, causes severe inflammation or dermatitis on the skin. One should seek medical assistance if the condition is serious with pus and swelling,” he said.
Acid + Alkali ---> Salt + Water
Some examples of skin dermatitis caused by rove beetle:
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