66 INSECTS AFFECTING STOEED PEODUCTS. 
ALLEGED POISONOUS NATURE OF THE WEEVIL. 
The New York Times, under date of September 28, 1909, printed, 
under the heading "Poisoned Bug Holds Up Imports of Beans," the 
following "story." The description given shows plainly that Bruchus 
rufimanus is the insect in question. 
Many Customs Laborers Made III by Bite of Little Pests from Italy. — Inves- 
tigation Is Ordered. 
agricultural department and board of health called in — victims of bites 
demand compensation. 
The local pure food office of the Agricultural Department and the board of health 
have been asked to investigate the coming to this port of a small gray-winged bug that 
threatens to stop the importation of a certain kind of bean from Italy. This insect 
has caused so much illness among the laborers and "weighers who handle the beans 
that the matter has been officially brought to the attention of Surveyor Clarkson. He 
has called for an investigation, and meanwhile has held up a large importation of the 
beans until a decision shall be reached. 
For some time the authorities have received complaint that a small insect brought 
from Italy with a dried bean, much like our butter bean and called by the men who 
handle them as "horse" or "fly" beans, was causing the discomfiture of the men 
handling them. A few days ago three men became so ill that they had to remain at 
home under the care of physicians. At first the cause of the malady was a mystery, 
but the men soon became convinced that the bugs were the cause of it. Sixty-three 
bags of the beans which arrived here on the Europa are known to have brought the 
pests, and the consignment now held up consists of 125 bags, which arrived recently 
on the Virginia. 
The insect is of gray color, about the size of half a pea, with wings that fold closely 
on its back. "When first disclosed in the bean the bug is apparently lifeless. It soon 
revives, however, and begins to crawl or take short flights. It crawls up the trousers 
of the men who handle the beans and bites them, the effect being a feeling of nausea. 
In addition to this a rash appears on the affected parts. 
The officers of the Pure Food Bureau have taken specimens of the bug, and are now 
making tests to prove that it is the bug which causes the strange illness. 
The men who have the handling of the importations upon the piers and weighers 
are almost in revolt, and some have petitioned the collector and the surveyor requesting 
that their doctor's bills be paid, setting up the claim that they are entitled to remun- 
eration as having been infected while in the performance of their duty. They also 
want pay for lost time, and the matter has been referred to the Treasury Department 
for decision. 
It was said yesterday that the importers to whom the shipments are consigned have 
protested against the action of the department in holding up their goods. 
ALLEGED POISONOUS NATURE DUE TO MITES. 
While the writer has not seen any statement to the effect that this 
weevil is attacked by the predaceous mite Pediculoides ventricosus 
Newport, nevertheless it seems highly probable that the trouble just 
related may have been due to the presence of this mite in the broad 
beans affected by the weevil, this supposition being based on the fact 
