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607. ; Bell, M. R. ; and Veal, S. D. 1966. Bacteria and fungi associated 

 with dead boli wr.evils ( Anthonomus grandis ) in a natural population. 

 J. Invertebr. Pathol. 8: 401-408. 

 An unusually large number of dead boll weevils ( Anthonomus grandis ) were found 

 covered by a pinkish-white external fungus and adhering to unopened cotton bolls 

 in an experimental cotton field in Self Creek Community, Okitbbeha County, 

 Mississippi, in October and November 1964. A study was made of the dead weevils, 

 and all bacteria and fungi present internally were isolated. These cultures 

 were identified, and representatives from taxonomic groups were tested for 

 pathogenicity. Cloaca A ( Aerobacter cloacae ; Enterobacter cloacae ) occurred 

 most frequently. Other bacterial isolates with similar characteristics did 

 not fit currently recognized groups of the Enterobacteriaceae but with similar 

 characteristics did not fit currently recognized groups of the Enterobacteriaceae 

 but were similar in some respects to Cloaca A, S erratia , and an Intermediate 

 group. Other genera represented were Pseudomonas , Alcaligenes , Achromobacter , 

 Klebsiella , Lactobacillus , and Bacillus . The most frequently isolated fungi 

 belonged to the genus Fusarium . Other fungi represented were Fusldium sp., 

 Oedocephalum sp., Aspergillus sp., and Penicillium sp. No microorganisms 

 tested were pathogenic. The bacteria were considered normal flora of the 

 weevil intestinal tract, and their frequent occurrence Indicated that Cloaca 

 A and the InLermediate group were often either present in the living host or 

 possessed special ability to grow after host death to the exclusion of other 

 bacteria, or both. The frequent occurrence of Fusarium fungi indicated that 

 the fungi possessed certain characteristics which permitted exclusive sapro- 

 phytic growth. 



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