BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's quality control administration said on Friday that its Guangdong bureau had found live khapra beetles in soybeans imported from the United States.

    A statement from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said the 460 tons of soybeans shipped by the U.S.-based Scoular Company contained the beetles and "other species of harmful insects", without elaborating. Ragweed seeds were also detected in the 21 containers.

    However, the soybeans were approved by the U.S. quality control inspection authorities as they are carrying the official certificates, said the statement.

    The administration has informed the U.S. side, demanding an investigation and concrete measures to strengthen the inspection and supervision over its soybean exports to China, said the statement.

    The Guangdong quality control department has rejected the tainted soybeans and suspended imports of soybeans from the U.S. supplier according to Chinese law, said the statement.

    The khapra beetle is considered to be one of the world's most feared stored-product pests. It can munch its way through a lot of plants, including wheat, barley, corn, sorghum, bean, peanut and other nuts.

    Ragweeds are harmful weeds which siphon off water and nutrition from crops.