the mysterious east, Vol. CXVI

Man allegedly scatters squirming larvae in train to shock passengers

Kyodo News

A 35-year-old man was arrested Monday for scattering about 200 beetle larvae on the floor of a train car as a prank, police said.

Manabu Mizuta, of Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, was arrested for allegedly obstructing by force the Keihan Line's business.

When he was arrested, Mizuta had about 3,600 mealworms contained in film cases and other containers in his bag, police sources alleged.

"(The worms) wiggle around and are so weird. I like seeing people surprised," Mizuta was quoted by police as saying.

Mizuta allegedly spread the 2-cm-long worms on the floor of the car at about 10:05 a.m.

The train was running through Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture, at the time. It was delayed about three minutes while the worms were cleaned up, police said.

Police officers assigned to railway duty were on alert in the Keihan region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures, because worms were repeatedly being found in train cars.

The police said they would try to determine if Mizuta was involved in any of the other incidents.

Mealworms are often grown as food for pet birds and other animals, and can be purchased in pet stores.