The Rove Beetle @ CHARLIE

Assalamualaikum and good morning / afternoon / evening to all.


Ok, this time we will talk about Charlie the Insect! (The Rove Beetle). Seriously I can say that Charlie is very famous at student campus, college, university or any high institution including our beloved Malaysia Maritime Academy ( ALAM ). Me myself together with my roommates had severally found this insect in our cabin, and already has experienced been ‘kissed’ by the rove beetle.

Before I go further, let me introduce you the main character in my topic for today, ‘Mr Charlie’ .

This picture was taken during the Charlie crossing my pillow J

The Rove Beetle or Charlie is less than 1 cm long. The body is dark orange in colour and the tip of the abdomen, the upper abdomen and the head are black. The upper middle iridescent greenish region of the abdomen are the hard wings (elytra). A pair of transparent wings are neatly folded and hidden under the hard wings. During daytime, the beetle will be seen crawling around swiftly with hidden wings resembling ants. When disturbed it raises the abdomen in a threatening gesture like a scorpion and can fly away.

Rove Beetle or Charlie contain a very dangerous toxin. Local people call them SEMUT SEMAI / SEMUT KAYAP. It has a small body but the whole body contain toxin paederin that can cause burns on human skin and left an ugly scar to our body.







Scary right?? Don’t worry here some tips to avoid been kissed by Charlie.

• · Because these beetles are attracted to lights at night , turn off or reduce the use of lights and close all doors / windows during the beetle epidemic .
• · Use a fine mesh mosquito , insect aerosol sprays , traps and so on . 
• · Do not sit close to the light / lamp, do not hit the beetle on the body, just blow it away .
• · If you squash the Rove beetle , immediately wash the area with a soap and water ASAP.
• · Charlie really don’t like moth balls (ubat gegat).So use it.

That’s all from me for now, thanks for reading