It was thought to be an Oedemerid – ?Sessinia livida – but would need to see a specimen to be sure. The larvae develop in rotting material. The adults can cause problems as they secrete a chemical that can cause blisters on the skin. Was this the annoyance reported? The blisters can take quite a time to heal. It brought the New Zealand army to its knees – beetles were attracted to the night lights.

The insect look very similar to one that caused a similar outbreak in Samoa in the late 80???s. For several weeks, thousands were swarming around the lights, but many were also observed in groups during daytime. The beetle was called the ???blister beetle???, since it causes blisters on the skin when handled. Several people at Nu???u (research station) experienced it. It has not been reported in such abundance since.