What is the diesel bug?

Micro-organisms are all around us. They are believed to be the first life forms to colonise our planet, so starting the evolutionary journey. They are still the bedrock of the food chain, providing sustenance for a host of other creatures, whilst adapting to take advantage of every available source of energy, no matter how seemingly inhospitable the environment. All they need is moisture.

No surprise then that, diesel bug organisms have adapted to consume our primary sources of energy, fossil (hydrocarbon) fuels. Though individual diesel bug organisms are largely invisible to the naked eye, they are a force to be reckoned with. Once adapted to local conditions, they rapidly reproduce to form expanding diesel bug colonies. These diesel bug colonies continue to expand until food or moisture run out.

Growth is accelerated by heat and humidity. Microbes are always present in fuel. Diesel bug contamination can be defined as the state when bugs are present in sufficient quantities to adversely affect the use of the fuel.