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Aerobic heterotrophic and facultative anaerobic bacteria were isolated from all developmental stages of the sugar beet root maggot, Tetanops myopaefor-mis (von Roder). Two distinct bacterial symbiotic relationships were observed. Serrcatia liquefticiens and Serratia marcescens were found to be associated with all developmental stages. Bacterial symbiont transmission occurred from one generation to the next. Symbionts were transferred from the male reproductive system to the female reproductive system, where both an internal infiltration of the egg chorion and an external smearing of the eggs occurred during oviposition. Pseudomonas maltophilia was found in association with the larval gut and the inner surface of the puparium. Electron microscopy of the inner puparial surface revealed symbionts within the chitinous wall. In vitro symbiont chitinase production was found, using both nephelometric (turbidimetric) and Nacetylglucosamine assays. A relationship appeared to exist between adult fly emergence and enzymatic chitin degradation of the puparium by the bacterial symbionts.

An antibacterial substance produced by a strain of Streptococcus mitior, and isolated from a human throat culture, was found to inhibit the growth of streptococci and staphylococci. The substance was characterized as hydrogen peroxide.

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