Abstract
In a preliminary survey, cultures were made from the surface ana tissues of 28 insects (mostly bumble bees, mining bees and hover flies); 136 isolates of bacteria and yeasts were obtained. The surface flora tended to be different from that present in the inside of the body. The 102 bacterial strains were examined by a variety of morphological, cultural and biochemical tests and the results used to produce a computer classification of the collection. Twelve groups were obtained,each being identified by more intensive study of its central (or type) strain. The majority of bacteria appeared to derive from the environment: a few showed what was taken to be adaptation to host. Of the latter, organisms resembling 'Chromobacterium typhiflavum' and 'Bacterium eurydice' were obtained only from bumble bees. Subsequently, 41- bumble bees and 13 specimens of flowers were examined in order to obtain, additional strains resembling 'Chr. typhiflavum' and 'Bact. eurydice'. A total of 47 of the former and 33 of the latter were studied in detail, computer classification techniques being included. Unsuccessful attempts were also made to obtain these organisms from honeycomb. The 'Chr. typhflavum' - like strains formed two clusters, the larger being identified as 'Chr. typhiflavum', and the smaller apparently related to Erwinia tracheiphila. The Bact. eurydice-like strains yielded four clusters: the largest was identified as 'Bact. curydice' by inclusion of a standard culture, and three smaller groups consisted respectively of organisms related to 'Bact. eurydice', though not identical with it, groups D streptococci, and forms of dubious identity resembling Streptococcus, Acrococcus or Pediococcus. It is suggested that Chromobacterium typhiflavun and Bacterium eurydice should be renamed Erwinia typhiflavun and Lactobacillus eurydice respectively.