Dermatitis
Guides
Attagenus unicolor
black carpet beetle
Attagenus unicolor, the black carpet beetle, is a 3–5 millimeter beetle in the family Dermestidae. It is considered the most destructive carpet beetle species in the United States. The larval stage causes damage to household fabrics, furniture, and stored products by feeding on natural fibers and dried animal materials. Adults feed on flower pollen. The species has both economic and minor medical significance due to the irritating hairs of larvae, which can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Echidnophaga gallinacea
hen flea, sticktight flea, stickfast flea
Echidnophaga gallinacea is a small, dark brown flea that parasitizes a broad range of bird and mammal hosts including poultry, dogs, cats, and occasionally humans. Adult females embed permanently into host skin—typically on bare areas of the head and face—using a serrated mouthpart to feed on blood, while males remain mobile. Heavy infestations cause ulceration, dermatitis, anemia, and can be fatal to young or small hosts. The species has spread globally through poultry farming and is now established across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
fleaectoparasitepoultry-pestvectorinvasivecosmopolitanintegrated-pest-managementcage-free-poultrybackyard-chickenshematophagypermanent-attachmentsessile-femaleresilinjumpingctenidia-absentanaemiadermatitisulcerationRickettsiaBartonellaplaguediatomaceous-earthmaldisonpesticide-resistanceorganic-farminganimal-welfareeconomic-entomologyveterinary-entomologyhost-generalisturban-wildlife-interfacesynanthropicOrnithonyssus bacoti
tropical rat mite
Ornithonyssus bacoti, commonly called the tropical rat mite, is a hematophagous mesostigmatid mite in the family Macronyssidae. It is an obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite primarily associated with rats and other rodents, but will opportunistically bite humans and domestic animals when primary hosts are unavailable. The mite is of significant medical and veterinary importance due to its role in causing rat mite dermatitis in humans and its potential to vector several pathogens. It exhibits remarkable survival capabilities, traveling hundreds of feet to locate hosts and surviving extended periods without feeding.
Paederus grandis
Paederus grandis is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Austin in 1877. The species was previously known as Paederus lecontei until Swift and Ray (2010) synonymized the two names under the older epithet grandis. It is recorded from the southwestern United States (Arizona, California) and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Paederus, it likely possesses defensive chemistry, though specific studies on this species are lacking.
Paederus iowensis
Iowa Tomcat Rove Beetle
Paederus iowensis is a small rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, commonly known as the Iowa Tomcat Rove Beetle. Like other members of the genus Paederus, it possesses specialized defensive glands containing pederin, a potent vesicant compound that can cause dermatitis upon contact with human skin. The species is native to the midwestern and northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
Paederus littorarius
Shore Rove Beetle
Paederus littorarius is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, commonly known as the Shore Rove Beetle. Like other members of the genus Paederus, this species produces pederin, a toxic compound in its hemolymph that can cause dermatitis and blistering on human skin upon contact. The species is widely distributed across northern North America.
Paederus mexicanus
Paederus mexicanus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by Erichson in 1840. The genus Paederus is notable for containing species that produce pederin, a potent vesicant compound in their hemolymph that causes dermatitis and blistering on human skin upon contact. As a member of the Paederus genus, this species likely shares this defensive chemical trait, though species-specific documentation is limited. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Paederus obliteratus
Paederus obliteratus is a rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, first described by J.L. LeConte in 1878. It is one of many Paederus species known for containing pederin, a toxic compound in their hemolymph that can cause dermatitis and blistering when contacting human skin. The species occurs across eastern and southern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is a predatory beetle found in various terrestrial habitats.