Hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms, mostly Cladosporium resinae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, colloquially known as “HUM bugs,” are commonly present in jet fuel. They live in the water-fuel interface of the water droplets, form dark black/brown/green, gel-like mats, and cause microbial corrosion to plastic and rubber parts of the aircraft fuel system by consuming them, and to the metal parts by the means of their acidic metabolic products. They are also incorrectly called algae due to their appearance. FSII, which is added to the fuel, acts as a growth retardant for them. There are about 250 kinds of bacteria that can live in jet fuel, but fewer than a dozen are meaningfully harmful.
While the first microscopes were made about 100 years before the term Hum Bug became in vogue, I would think few people in the mid 1700s knew enough about the existence of bacteria to link them to the etymology of the term Hum Bug which was in common usage across the globe at this time. Several translations unite the term "bug" to a ghostly presence of an unwanted nature which certainly would apply to bacteria during that period. While an English interpretation of hum and bug suggests a buzzing insect, its meaning is not consistent with other languages. Over time Hum Bug became synonomous with an unworthy nature, best expressed by Mr. Scrooge of Charles Dickens fame. Personnaly I like the ghostly image of an insect humming in the night by the head of one attempting to sleep.
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