A woman's big toe turned black and her toenail became bright yellow after being bitten by a toxic millipede that hid in her shoe before she went to work.
Thassynara Vargas, 25, was left with a gross-looking big toe after it came into contact with a millipede that had sneakily crawled into one of her t rainers.
The incident took place when she went to the store she owns in the neighbourhood of Taquara in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on Friday, October 29.
On arriving at her workplace, she realised she had a bug in her right trainer.
She explained on Instagram to her 2,500 followers: "I killed it, put my trainers on again and got on with my day.
"When I got home at 7 pm, when I took off my trainers, I saw my foot was like this. I fell into total despair. I started screaming, shouting for help.
"My mother put me in the shower, I started to wash my feet with soap and none of that 'stain' came out. I called my boyfriend and we rushed to the hospital straight away."
The young woman was seen to by three different doctors before she found out what had happened.
She said: "I was informed I would have to take good care of the wound, as these animals release a substance that burns the skin, and this secretion they release rots the skin.
"This part that's black, it could flake off. I may lose the nail, but they said that's pretty standard."
According to the young woman, her toenail turned yellow due to a toxin released by the bug.
She said: "I'm issuing this warning so that whenever you're about to put on a shoe, you look, tap your shoe on the floor and pay close attention before putting it on. Please be very careful."
Thassynara's toe had turned to normal again by the following Monday.
Not all millipedes are poisonous but several species have glands which secrete fluids that can irritate and spark reactions in some individuals with allergies.
The spray which some millipedes use to ward off predators contains hydrochloric acid, which chemically corrodes the skin and can result in lasting discolouration.
The liquid produced by this defence mechanism can also irritate the eyes.
Experts advise people to avoid handling them as they can also leave a "lingering odor".
Solvents ether and alcohol can remove traces of the noxious fluid if thorough washing with soap and water doesn't get rid, experts say.
The insect - often referred to as 1,000-legged worms - can vary in length but the longest ever recorded grew to a massive 15.2in long.
The creatures are typically brown or black and can easily climb walls.
They often enter homes through cracks in building foundations or even through cracks above the ground.
