Bacteria symbiotically associated with entomogenous nematodes were described and placed in the genus Xenorhabdus in 1979. Since that time, additional studies on members of the genus, the designation of the new subspecies Xenorhabdus nematophilus subsp. nematophilus and X. nematophilus subsp. bovienii, the description of a new strain of X. nematophilus subsp. poinarii, and the observation of colonial dimorphism in members of the genus have brought about the necessity for an amended description. The description of the genus Xenorhabdus is amended to include dimorphism and additional characteristics.
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