My new years eve was spent with my Thai family. It was relaxing. On New Years day I noticed a small red area behind the knee at the joint. I thought maybe i had gotten bitten by a sand flea that has happened to me many times before at the southern beaches. A day later the red rash double in size and spread to another of my leg behind the knee. 2 days later, then skin begin blistery and it appears there is a big part of the skin that is dead on both places. I did not see any particular sign of a bite mark consistent with this type of reaction. Today is the 3rd day. The pain is incredible now. I finally went to a skin doctor to see what was happening. 

The doctor said I had not been bitten by anything. But instead this tiny bug must had crawled across my leg at the afflicted area. The ROVO Beetle seems to be common in Thailand although after more than 13 years here I have never seen or heard about it. Apparently, the skin if this beetle is toxic acid. 

 

ove beetles are small, segmented insects with black heads and tails and orange abdomens. They are poisonous and can cause a rash or blisters on the skin if their venom comes into contact with it. The venom is acidic and irritating, and is known as Pederin. Symptoms can include: Fever, Nausea and vomiting, and Blindness if the venom gets into the eyes. 

So be warned and be careful. This thing can be attracted to light and is so tiny unlike a normal beetle. If you develop any symptims like I described, seek medical attention right away. The longer you wait the worse can happen to the afflicted area. Infections are common if you do not treat it. 

If the symptoms don't improve soon then I would visit at least 2 more doctors to get additional opinions to ensure that diagnosis is correct. Maybe you should also see a doctor who's not just a skin doctor, but may be a GP or possibly even an infectious disease specialist, a toxicologist or an allergist.
 

The fact that you've now got it on both legs, and that the rash didn't appear on both legs simultaneously, makes it more confusing. 

Moving to the Health and Medicine forum. 

What does it have to do with the rainy season which is May-October?

1 hour ago, RSD1 said:

If the symptoms don't improve soon then I would visit at least 2 more doctors to get additional opinions to ensure that diagnosis is correct. Maybe you should also see a doctor who's not just a skin doctor, but may be a GP or possibly even an infectious disease specialist, a toxicologist or an allergist.
 

The fact that you've now got it on both legs, and that the rash didn't appear on both legs simultaneously, makes it more confusing. 

I agree that a second opinion should bd sought -- from an internist not dermatologist -- if it does not improve. 

As for me, I would just put some disinfectant on it or whatever the doc gave you.  Alternatively you could go to 1,2,3... more doctors and then choose which diagnoses is the most probable.  The Rovo beetle is an interesting option and wonder how he figured this out 🙂

 

Had these types of infections many times here over the last 25 years.  Now living surrounded by water the last 4 years and a plethora of insects, which forced me to be more careful.  Been two years now without a nasty looking infection. 

2 hours ago, RSD1 said:

If the symptoms don't improve soon then I would visit at least 2 more doctors to get additional opinions to ensure that diagnosis is correct. Maybe you should also see a doctor who's not just a skin doctor, but may be a GP or possibly even an infectious disease specialist, a toxicologist or an allergist.
 

The fact that you've now got it on both legs, and that the rash didn't appear on both legs simultaneously, makes it more confusing. 

no.. it is only on one leg... the bend in the leg allowed the one part to touch another part of my leg and it also got burned

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

What does it have to do with the rainy season which is May-October?

Internet said they are most active during the rainy season

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

I agree that a second opinion should bd sought -- from an internist not dermatologist -- if it does not improve. 

The Dermatologist seemed to know immediately what was the cause based on the injury site. Showed me pictures of them that matched mine. I am trying a cream he gave to prevent infections. He said it gets bad for 3 days then will begin to heal. If i do not see improvement i will of course see another type of doctor. But what the Dermatologist said makes sense. This bug has acid on its skin that causes these burns. It has no need to bite. Just touching you is enough. Everything I read about it seems consistent with what is happening and what the doctor said. 

Go to a doctor.  There are plenty of things in the tropics that can **** you up. 

1 minute ago, connda said:

Go to a doctor.  There are plenty of things in the tropics that can **** you up. 

You did not read it.. I already have seen a doctor and he identified the cause and species. 

21 hours ago, thesetat said:

The Dermatologist seemed to know immediately what was the cause based on the injury site. Showed me pictures of them that matched mine. I am trying a cream he gave to prevent infections. He said it gets bad for 3 days then will begin to heal. If i do not see improvement i will of course see another type of doctor. But what the Dermatologist said makes sense. This bug has acid on its skin that causes these burns. It has no need to bite. Just touching you is enough. Everything I read about it seems consistent with what is happening and what the doctor said. 

My concetn was sparked by your statement about it spreading to what sounded like the other leg.  You have now clarified that it is on one leg only. 

 

I am familiar with this beetle (spelled Rove). In fact I have a cat that has several times been affected. (You'd think she'd have learned by now to leave them alone , but no....). There is a very toxic chemical in their bodily fluids that cause what is in effect a chemical burn. Just would not have been likely to affect 2 different limbs. 

 

 

21 hours ago, atpeace said:

As for me, I would just put some disinfectant on it or whatever the doc gave you.  Alternatively you could go to 1,2,3... more doctors and then choose which diagnoses is the most probable.  The Rovo beetle is an interesting option and wonder how he figured this out 🙂

 

Had these types of infections many times here over the last 25 years.  Now living surrounded by water the last 4 years and a plethora of insects, which forced me to be more careful.  Been two years now without a nasty looking infection. 

This is the damage it has done to my leg... I would think the doctor knew because it matches other cases he has treated. 

It actually spread by contact to the 2nd place when bending the leg sitting or in prone position.. 

It looks terrible! Thanks for the heads up.

3 hours ago, thesetat said:

This is the damage it has done to my leg... I would think the doctor knew because it matches other cases he has treated. 

Could be but I bet if you showed that pic to other Thai doctors without telling them what the other doc said, you would get another opinion.  I definitely could be wrong.  My infections looked similar but they didn't spread to other areas like yours. Good luck!

 

Edit: I just looked at some pics of the Rove beetle bites and some look very similar to yours. 

 

Curious, what medication did the doctor give you? I usually just keep it clean as you seem to be have been doing using Neosporin or a disinfectant cream and saline water ( sometime only saline).  Amoxicillin on very rare occasions.  

50 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Could be but I bet if you showed that pic to other Thai doctors without telling them what the other doc said, you would get another opinion.  I definitely could be wrong.  My infections looked similar but they didn't spread to other areas like yours. Good luck!

 

Edit: I just looked at some pics of the Rove beetle bites and some look very similar to yours. 

 

Curious, what medication did the doctor give you? I usually just keep it clean as you seem to be have been doing using Neosporin or a disinfectant cream and saline water ( sometime only saline).  Amoxicillin on very rare occasions.  

He only gave me a cream to apply to it. Unsure what is in it. It is not labelled with any English. And it needs to be refrigerated. 

Any Thai skin doctor can recognize a paederus (ด้วงก้นกระดก) dermatitis.

OP got very good explanations. 

Treatment consists of steroid cream and topical antibiotics  (eg Fucicort cream).

You can have it at multiple sites if you inadvertently spread the poison (by just swiping away the insect) or if you have been exposed to several of them

(I have been in rooms with 20 of them).

Nets or window screens protect you. 

Once they are on your skin,  you will usually automatically swipe them away (often in your sleep when they are near your eye - the result is called "Nairobi eye"). So @Sheryl's cat is excused.

 

 

 

 

My gf had a run in with one of those beetles not too long ago.  Took a couple months to heal. 

4 hours ago, Lorry said:

 

Once they are on your skin,  you will usually automatically swipe them away (often in your sleep when they are near your eye - the result is called "Nairobi eye"). So @Sheryl's cat is excused.

 

Actually the $%$@ cat HUNTS them...🤣

4 hours ago, Airalee said:

My gf had a run in with one of those beetles not too long ago.  Took a couple months to heal. 

Gosh, I hope it does not take so long to heal... It really hurts a lot and looks horrible. Let alone being unable to wear pants for fear that the white skin will be pulled off before It can scab... 

Doctor said 3 or 4 days to heal but everyone who has had experience with this says a month or month to heal

On 1/3/2025 at 9:39 PM, thesetat said:

You did not read it.. I already have seen a doctor and he identified the cause and species. 

I did read it and the one which says the bug is most active in the rainy season, May to October?

So always trust the Doctor rather than what you read online, OK!

55 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

I did read it and the one which says the bug is most active in the rainy season, May to October?

So always trust the Doctor rather than what you read online, OK!

Well... Given it was first discovered in Thailand. And even has Thailand in the name. Perhaps can trust  Thai doctor for this instance. Haha....Normally though, I do not. 

51 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Given it was first discovered in Thailand. And even has Thailand in the name.

A search on the internet does not agree with this. Look for yourself.

The Rove beetle family Staphylindae has over 66000 species. Which did your Doctor surmise it was?

On 1/3/2025 at 8:11 PM, bkk6060 said:

What does it have to do with the rainy season which is May-October?

Ehh, not in whole Thailand. You have the western and eastern monsoon.

May-june you have the western monsoon, don't go to phuket.

Same time its sunny in the gulf islands.

November it's rainy in the gulf islands like Samui.

11 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

A search on the internet does not agree with this. Look for yourself.

The Rove beetle family Staphylindae has over 66000 species. Which did your Doctor surmise it was?

Articerodes thailandicus is a rove beetle discovered in Thailand in 2008.[1] It was named for Thailand, where it was first discovered.[1] It is closely related to Articerodes jariyae and Articerodes ohmomoi, discovered during the same study.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articerodes_thailandicus#:~:text=Articerodes thailandicus is a rove,discovered during the same study.

Horrific injury. The downside of living in the tropics. Get well soon.

 

5 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Articerodes thailandicus is a rove beetle discovered in Thailand in 2008.[1] It was named for Thailand, where it was first discovered.[1] It is closely related to Articerodes jariyae and Articerodes ohmomoi, discovered during the same study.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Articerodes_thailandicus#:~:text=Articerodes thailandicus is a rove,discovered during the same study.

Although this is what the doctor said... and showed me. There re many beetle species. This name may or may not be the one that got me.

5 hours ago, thesetat said:

Gosh, I hope it does not take so long to heal... It really hurts a lot and looks horrible. Let alone being unable to wear pants for fear that the white skin will be pulled off before It can scab... 

Doctor said 3 or 4 days to heal but everyone who has had experience with this says a month or month to heal

I have lots of experience with them and 3 to 4 days sounds right.

Having said that,  yours are quite impressive lesions, might take a bit longer.  You should have started treatment sooner. 

 

What a doctor calls "heal" and what a layman calls "heal" is not the same.  You will probably see harmless skin discolorations for months.