Populations of grass grub (Costelytra zealandica) larvae from many Canterbury areas were found to contain individuals displaying sirnilar symptoms of disease. A survey indicated that up to 86% of some populations showed these symptoms and healthy larvae confined in soil from these areas soon stopped feeding and became diseased. A bacterium, tentatively identified as Hafnia alvei, was isolated from diseased larvae and was amenable to artificial culture; healthy larvae fed inoculated roots or confined to soil to which the isolate had been added developed the same disease symptoms as seen in the field.

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