yersinia entomophaga yersinia entomophaga yersinia entomophaga is a species of bacteria that was originally isolated from the diseased larvae of the new zealand grass grub, costelytra zealandica. the type strain is mh96 (= dsm 22339 = atcc baa-1678). it is currently being studied for biological pest control of insect pests like the porina moth, wiseana cervinata. yersinia entomophaga scientific classification domain: bacteria phylum: pseudomonadota class: gammaproteobacteria order: enterobacterales family: yersiniaceae genus: yersinia species: y. entomophaga binomial name yersinia entomophagahurst et al., 2011 etymology the name is derived from entomon, adj., cut up, segmented animal (used to refer to an insect) and phagos (voracious eater); n.l. fem. n. entomophaga insect eater.