Paederus Dermatitis: What You Need to Know About This Painful Insect Reaction Introduction Paederus dermatitis, also known as "rove beetle dermatitis" or "Nairobi fly dermatitis," is a painful and often alarming skin condition caused by contact with certain species of rove beetles, particularly those from the Paederus genus. These small insects don’t bite or sting, but their body fluids contain a potent toxin called pederin, which can cause severe skin irritation. I recently experienced this myself, resulting in a large, scary wound that prompted me to raise awareness about this little-known but dreadful insect. This article will explain what Paederus dermatitis is, its symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention strategies to help you avoid the same discomfort. Day 3 Crusting and healing of wound Day 2 After contact with the Acid Fly What is Paederus Dermatitis? Paederus dermatitis is a type of irritant contact dermatitis caused by crushing a Paederus beetl...