ENTOMOLOGY

468 SANITARY ENTOMOLOGYThe wasps most likely to sting are species of Vespa and Polistes.The most aggressive stinging insects in America are the TexasAgricultural ants of the genus Pogonomyrmex, especially P. barbatuaSmith and P. califor;nicus Buckley. These ants will attack anyone whocomes in the vicinity of their ]JJ.rge nests or who stands in their path.The immediate effect of their sting is a paralysis of the limb affected.The pain is very severe, and it is recorded that the sting of these antsis fatal to young pigs.HONEY POISONINGIn South and Central America one very frequently sees the stinglesshoney bees of the genera Melipona and Trigona at meat. The honey ofthese bees is eagerly collected by the natives for food. According toWheeler and Von Ihering there are numerous cases of poisoning from·eating this honey. This poisoning is manifested by intestinal disorders,sometimes causing paralysis an9 vomiting, while the honey of other speciescauses eczema and skin diseases and death has been recorded.Wheeler states that Trigona bipunctata Lepeletier, T. amalthea(Olivier) Jurine, and T. ruficru8 (Latreille) Jurine make the waX ofmoist earth collected along streams and drains or from the feces of animalsand man. He noted T. ruficru8 at Gatun, Canal Zone, visiting garbagebarrels in great numbers in company with house flies and blow flies.He has observed T. bipunctata at Guatemala collecting human excrementin open latrines and along railway tracks, and T. pallida Latreille wasnoted at Gatun collecting crude black oil used as a mosquito larvicide.According to Von Ihering the honey of T. limao Smith is frequently ifnot always poisonous, causing vomitin.g, convulsions, pains, and weakeningof the joints. He cites several cases. Von Martius claims that thereis a bee whose honey causes tetanus. He may have referred to this orrelated species. The cerumen or wax of this bee is sometimes 80 liquidthat it mixes with the honey.It is easy to see that there are abundant opportunities for contaminationof the honey of this group of bees. In fact it is not uncommon tosee our own honey bee at excrement and there is a possibility that attimes it may contaminate its honey.Dr. Kebler has recorded cases of poisoning in New Jersey from eatinghoney. Honey may also be poisoned by nectar gathered from poisonousplants, of which Morley lists several.ANAPHYLAXISHadwen and Bruce have contributed to medical entomology anothertype of disease caused by insects in showing that bot larvm when crushed