The dung beetle, Maladera matrida, as a new otologic nuisance

Foreign objects in the external auditory canal are frequent in ENT practice. Invasion by the recently defined dung beetle, Maladera matrida, is a new phenomenon which causes extreme distress, usually starting after invasion by the insect in the early morning hours. Extracting it is very difficult. This beetle is a relatively new, albeit already common problem in Israel. As yet it cannot be effectively controlled. It may well become a more severe problem which will necessitate screening of windows in urban as well as rural areas.