The species B. mycoides is a typical member of the B. cereus-Group of the genus Bacillus. Like B. anthracis, B. mycoides is not motile, otherwise they are facultatively anaerobic Gram-positive spore-bearing bacilli (1.0 µm wide or wider). The central to sub-terminal spores do not distend the cells. They are haemolytic and not sensitive to penicillin. They form white to rhizoid colonies on bacteriological media. The chromosomal DNA of B. mycoides has a GC content of 34.1 – 34.2 mol%.

They are very similar to B. cereus. They are not motile, ferment a few carbohydrates producing acid from glucose but not gas. B. mycoides is weakly haemolytic. They are lecithinase positive.

There have not been performed genetic studies on B. mycoides.

There have not been performed serological studies on B. mycoides.

B. mycoides has no known virulence factors.

B. mycoides strains can be grown very easily on most microbiological media, forming the typical rhizoid growth.

B. mycoides is a typical soil organism and survives well in soil.

There are no industrial uses for B. mycoides.

There are no B. mycoides vaccines.