milky disease

noun

variants or milky spore disease

: a destructive disease of scarab beetle grubs and especially Japanese beetle larvae that is caused by spore-producing bacteria (Paenibacillus popilliae synonym Bacillus popilliae or Paenibacillus lentimorbus synonym Bacillus lentimorbus) and is marked by an the opaque, milky appearance of the infected larvae

Note: Commercial preparations containing spores of the causative bacteria are used to cause milky disease in the biological control of Japanese beetle infestations.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1940, in the meaning defined above