Serratia entomophila sp. nov. Associated with Amber Disease in the New Zealand Grass Grub Costelytra zealandica

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Abstract
Serratia entomophila sp. nov. is a homogeneous deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness group most closely related to Serratia ficaria and Serratia marcescens. All 19 strains studied resembled S. marcescens (the phenotypically closest species) by their inability to ferment or utilize l-rhamnose, l-rhamnose, d-melibiose, dulcitol, and d-raffinose but differed from S. marcescens by their inability to ferment or utilize sorbitol and their lack of lysine and ornithine decarboxylases. All strains utilized itaconate, a unique characteristic among Serratia species. Two biotypes could be distinguished. Strains of biotype 1 utilized d-arabitol but not l-arabitol or d-xylose. Strains of biotype 2 utilized l-arabitol and d-xylose but not d-arabitol. S. entomophila has been isolated from insect larvae and water. Most strains were isolated in New Zealand from the grass grub Costelytra zealandica infected with amber disease. None of the strains were isolated from infected humans, animals (other than insects), or plants. The type strain is strain A1T (ATCC 43705T).