Microorganisms were isolated from earthworm intestine and examined for their ability to degrade 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP), a main degradation product of the insecticide fenitrothion. An isolate that showed the best degradation of MNP was selected for further study. The 16S rRNA analysis showed that the isolate belongs to the genus of Burkholderia, close to phenanthrene-degrading Burkholderia sp. S4.9, and is named Burkholderia sp. SH-1. When time-course degradation of MNP by SH-1 was examined by high performance liquid chromatographic analysis, almost complete degradation of MNP was observed within 26 h. Colony forming unit value assays indicated that the isolate SH-1 was capable of utilizing MNP as a sole carbon source. SH-1 could also degrade p-nitrophenol (PNP) but could not degrade ortho-substituted nitroaromatics such as 2,4-, 2,6- and 2,5-dinitrophenol. Catechol was detected as the main degration product of MNP and PNP. SH-1 was also found in the soil from which earthworms were obtained. These results suggest that the dispersal of Burkholderia sp. SH-1 into different environment with the aid of earthworms is likely to play a role in bioremediation of the soil contaminated with MNP.