Field surveys were conducted to collect and refine "Natural resource survey" and ecosystem research data of 23 National parks in South Korea, including Hallasan on Jeju Island and Palgongsan newly designated as national park in 2023. Among the collected data, a total of 1,538 species from 54 families of Hymenoptera insects were recorded. Within these families, the largest number of species was recorded in the family Ichneumonidae with 514 species, followed by Formicidae (118 species), Braconidae (112 species), and Tenthredinidae (135 species), exhibiting relatively high species diversity. Among the National parks, Jirisan, the first designated National park in South Korea with a relatively large area compared to other parks, recorded the highest species diversity with 618 species, while Taebaeksan recorded relatively low species diversity with 77 species. Correlation analysis between the number of Hymenoptera species and other factors revealed a statistically significant and relatively strong positive correlation (P > 0.005, R = 0.864) with the total number of insects, and a statistically significant but relatively weak positive correlation (P > 0.005, R = 0.615) with the park's area.

광릉 숲의 곤충상 조사는 1932년으로 거슬러 올라간다. 광릉 숲의 경로조사법에 의한 나비상 모니터링 연구는 1998년부터 2023년까지 지속되었다. 26년 동안 총 223회 조사를 실시한 결과 118종, 20,181개체가 확인되었다. 봄철 출현하는 나비중 8종(노랑나비, 대만흰나비, 먹부전나비, 멧팔랑나비, 쇳빛부전나비, 애호랑나비, 큰줄흰나 비, 흰줄표범나비)은 첫 출현일이 빨라지는 경향을 보였으며, 평균 5.2일 빨라졌다. 조사된 나비중에서 큰줄흰나 비, 뿔나비, 남방부전나비 순서로 많은 개체수가 확인되었으며, 연 출현 빈도는 큰줄흰나비가 26회로 가장 많았다. 확인된 나비의 분포, 서식지, 식성에 따라 분류한 결과 분포는 북방계 27%, 남방계 14%이며, 서식지는 산림 경계 36%, 산림 내부 33%, 초지 30% 그리고 식성은 다식성 8%, 단식성 42%, 협식성 51%로 이루어진 것이 확인되었다. 또한, 기후변화 따른 나비류 생활주기 변화 여부를 검토하여 지구온난화 지표 자료로 활용할 계획이다.

한강 3개 보 구간 수변부 11개 지점을 대상으로 2023년 총 2회 채집된 저서성 대형무척추동물은 총 100종 평균 426.0 개체/m2였다. 여주보에서 64종으로 가장 많이 출현하였고, 강천보에서 59종, 이포보에서 54종, 한강보상류 에서 41종, 한강보하류에서 32종이 확인되었다. 전체 평균 개체밀도는 강천보에서 944.1 개체/m2로 가장 많았고, 한강보상류에서 282.7 개체/m2, 여주보에서 251.9 개체/m2, 이포보에서 180.6 개체/m2, 한강보하류에서 172.9 개체 /m2 순으로 확인되었다. 한강 보 구간에서는 플라나리아류, 실지렁이, 깔따구류 등이 우점함. 보구간의 특성상 상대적으로 단순한 하상 및 깊은 수심에 적응성이 높은 실지렁이, 깔따구류의 우점은 일반적인 특성으로 볼 수 있으며 일시적으로 수변부에서 밀집된 플라나리아류의 채집이 이뤄져 우점된 결과를 보인 것으로 보임. 한강 보 구간 수변부 및 중앙부 조사지점별 군집분석을 실시한 결과 한강보 하류는 3개 보에 비해 우점도가 높고 다양도 와 풍부도가 낮았으며 전반적으로 상류부에 위치한 한강보상류 등의 지점에서 군집안정성이 확보되고 있는 것으로 보이며 이러한 점은 상대적으로 다양한 미소서식환경에 기인한 것으로 판단된다.

Moth flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are small fuzzy flies found in diverse habitats from mountains to urban areas, even in your house. Approximately 3,000 species among 6 subfamilies are recorded worldwide. However, in Korea, only 10 species from 3 genera of the subfamily Psychodinae have been recorded, including 8 species from North Korea. A preliminary study on moth flies in Korea was conducted using specimens collected via malaise traps and by hands from various locations in South Korea. As a result, Brunettia lungjingensis, Thornburghiella decoricornis, Philosepedon monstruosus and our friendly but unrecorded, Clogmia albipunctata are newly described in Korea. Brief descriptions, photographs, and illustrations of these four species are provided.

The blackish cicada, Cryptotympana atrata Fabricius, 1775 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) was originally distributed mainly in the southernmost remote island, Jeju and rarely throughout low lands in South Korea, but has been explosively increased at the urban areas, where annual temperature is higher. In this study, we sequenced a partial mitochondrial COI from a total of 171 individuals collected throughout 12 localities in South Korea. The haplotype found with the highest frequency in Jeju island shares only with two inland localities in southern region with a low frequency, whereas the haplotype found with the highest frequency throughout inland localities was not found in Jeju island. These results showed that Jeju population, southern region, and other inland populations form somewhat different genetic groups.

The steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworm powder (SMSP) is developed by the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 2012. In here, the nutritional components of SMSP produced by rearing white-silk cocoon silkworm, Baekokjam, at high temperatures were compared and analyzed with those produced under optimal temperature conditions of 25°C. The weight of silkworms reared in a high-temperature environment increased compared to that under an optimal condition. However, when the silkworms matured, the difference in weight according to temperature conditions narrowed. As for the growth rate, the 5th instar silkworms grew a day earlier in a high-temperature environment than in an optimal. SMSPs produced in a high-temperature environment showed a difference when comparing the nutritional components with the SMSPs in an optimal condition. Overall, high-temperature-reared SMSPs contained about twice as high carbohydrates and slightly lower protein and fat than the optimal-reared SMSPs. These results show that SMSPs produced in a high-temperature environment have a difference in growth rate and nutritional composition from those produced under an optimal condition.

본 연구는 서식 환경에 따라 구분된 3화기 미국흰불나방(Hyphantria cunea Drury)을 숙주로 하는 기생파리의 종과 기생률의 차이를 확인했다. 조사 기간은 2023년 10월 24일부터 29일까지로, 방제를 실시한 서천군 국립생태 원과 방제를 실시하지 않은 군산시 근린공원에서 숙주인 미국흰불나방의 유충을 채집하였다. 유충은 기주식물 인 수국을 급여하여 실내 개별 사육하였다. 각 조사지에서 미국흰불나방의 기주식물은 국립생태원에서 8종, 근린공원에서 6종이 확인되었다. 총 숙주 380마리 중 기생파리는 106개체로 총 27.9%의 기생률을 보였고(유충 92개체, 미동정 알 14개체), 기생률은 근린공원이(39.6%) 국립생태원(12.5%)보다 더 높았다. 성충의 우화율은 63.0%로, 동정 결과 4속 92개체가 나타났다. 전체 종과 가장 많은 개체가 확인된 Exorista japonica (Townsend, 1909)의 조사지에 따른 유충 생존율과 성충 우화율은 모두 근린공원이 더 높은 것으로 확인 되었다. 조사결과 E. japonica가 미국흰불나방의 생물적 방제제로 유효할 것이라 판단되며, 근린공원에서의 더 높은 기생파리 유충 생존율과 성충 우화율을 통해 인간에 의한 교란이 적은 환경에서 기생파리를 이용한 미국흰불나방 방제가 더 효과적일 것이라고 고려된다. 또한 숙주의 생존율과 기생파리의 우화율을 비교한 결과 해충 방제가 이뤄지지 않는 환경에서 천적 개체군이 유지될 가능성이 더 높다고 사료 된다.

질경이택사(Alisma plantago-aquatica L. subsp. orientale (Sam.) Juz.)는 습지에서 자라는 여러해살이 풀로 질경 이택사는 덩이줄기를 약용으로 사용하며, 이뇨작용, 고혈압, 고지혈증 등에 효과가 있다. 국내에서는 전남 순천 에서 주로 재배되고 있으며, 8월 중ㆍ하순에 벼를 수확하고 같은 논에 후작으로 육묘한 택사를 이모작으로 심어 소득을 올리고 있다. 2022년 8월 전남 순천에서 재배중인 질경이택사에 진딧물이 발생하였으며 수생식물에 주로 발생하는 연테두리진딧물로 확인되었다. 연테두리진딧물(Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae)은 노린재목 진딧물과에 속하는 곤충으로 몸체는 황색, 황갈색 또는 적갈색을 띄고, 알로 월동하고, 질경이택사, 연꽃, 수련 등의 수생식물 로 이주하여 흡즙가해한다. 연테두리진딧물을 5개 온도(15.0, 20.0, 25.0, 30.0, 35.0℃), 65±5%, 16L:8D의 조건에서 발육기간을 조사하였다. 약충의 발육기간은 각각 10.8, 8.2, 5.5, 4.7일이었고, 35℃에서는 발육하지 못하였다. 성충의 생존기간은 각각 29.2, 28.2, 17.2, 8.6일이었고, 35℃에서는 발육하지 못하였다.

The large copper butterfly Lycaena dispar (Haworth, 1803; Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) has been categorized as a near-threatened species (NT) in South Korea from 2012 mainly due to limited distribution. In this study, we visited 36 sites spread across all South Korean provinces to verify the distributional range of the species and sequenced mitochondrial COI for 53 individuals from nine sites. We observed L. dispar at 15 sites in six provinces, including the two previously known provinces, indicating a southward range expansion. The in-field monitoring and genetic data collectively suggested that L. dispar does not have a limited distribution nor is it isolated, indicating that it should be reclassified as less vulnerable. Our study demonstrates that the combination of field and genetic data can provide a more reliable assessment of the stability of a species.

The clearwing moth, Synanthedon bicingulata (Staudinger, 1887), is a pest that infests various species of cherry trees. However, genetic information regarding the genus Synanthedon including S. bicingulata, is limited. In this study, we sequenced a complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the species. The 16,255 bp of S. bicingulata mitogenome differs from the typical gene arrangement formed in Lepidoptera: trnQ-trnS2-trnM-trnI arrangement between the A+T-rich region and the ND2 junction. Moreover, the genome has untranslated repetitive sequences in the intergenic space between lrRNA and trnV, as well as the CGA start codon in COI and the TTG start codon in ATP8. Similar observations are noted in species belonging to the tribe Synanthedonini within the genus Synanthedon.

Pararhabdepyris Gorbatovsky, 1995, is a small genus in Bethylidae (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea), currently comprising only six valid species worldwide. A new species is described and illustrated from South Korea. Pararhabdepyris sp. nov., which appears closely related to P. paradoxus, is characterized by the combination of the following characters: the basal two-thirds of the scape are dark castaneous, coxa and femora are dark castaneous, the median and submedian metapectal-propodeal disc is rugulose, and the transverse posterior carina is straight. Images of diagnostic characteristics and an updated key to the seven world species of the genus are presented.

Honey bee plays an important role in pollinating plants. Recently, however, declines in honey bee populations have been reported in many countries, and pesticides have been pointed out as one of the factors contributing to honey bee loss. To determine the effects of pesticides on honey bee behavior, we investigated the homing ability of honey bee exposed to four pesticides (acetamiprid, imidacloprid, fenitrothion, and carbaryl). In addition, the changes in expression levels of genes associated with ‘learning and memory’ (cGMP-dependent protein kinase foraging, Kruppel homolog 1, Adenlyate cyclase 3, Early growth response protein 1, Hormone receptor 38) were examined after pesticide treatment in forager bee. The four pesticides tested in this study generally reduced the homing ability of foragers. In the examination of gene expression, learning and memory-related genes were induced by the exposure to acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and carbaryl, whereas fenitrothion decreased the expression of these genes in honey bee. Although further studies are needed, this suggests that pesticides may have negative effects on honey bee behavior and behavior-related gene expression.

The habitat of Drosophila melanogaster is the environment of fruit decay/fermentation which emits high concentrations of chemicals. Our recent studies revealed that D. melanogaster has been evolutionarily adapted to its habitat through tolerance to chemicals and induction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) plays an important role for chemical tolerance. To determine the correlation between AMPs and the chemical tolerance pathway, we hypothesized that expression of AMPs is induced by tissue damages or ROS caused by chemical exposure and AMPs activate antioxidant enzymes, thereby inducing chemical tolerance in D. melanogaster. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the induction levels of genes associated with necrosis (EGR and BSK), apoptosis (Dronc, Dcp1, and Drice), antioxidant physiology (SOD1, SOD2, CAT, Trxr1, GstD2, and GstD5), and SAM metabolism (Gnmt and Foxo) in D. melanogaster exposed to three chemicals, 2-phenylethanol, ethanol, and acetic acid. As a result, above genes were induced in chemical-exposed fly, and this supports our hypothesis of chemical tolerance pathway in D. melanogaster.

Tropilaelaps mercedesae Anderson and Morgan, 2007 (Acari: Laelapidae) is a serious ectoparasite of the brood of several honey bee species. Among the four recognized species of Tropilaelaps, Korean population was renamed as T. mercedesae from T. clareae on the basis of morphological evidences and genetic data. In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of T. mercedesae. The 15,119-bp long mitogenome has an identical gene arrangement to that of Chinese sample reported previously. Comparison of two geographic samples showed COII, ND5, ND4, ND6, CytB, and ND1 to have higher number of variable sites than COI, which is often used for population-level study, suggesting these genes to have potential usefulness for population genetic study. The mitogenome sequence of T. mercedesae from Korea could be useful for species identification for geographic samples, trace of the origin of local populations, and illustration of evolutionary distinction among Tropilaelaps species either using part of or whole genome.

Vespa binghami (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is one of the 10 species in the genus Vespa distributed in South Korea and is the only nocturnal wasp. In this study, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the species using the Sanger method and using Vespa-specific 30 primer sets. The length of V. binghami was 15,957 bp and the total A/T content was 80.6%. The A+T-rich region of V. binghami was 152 bp, and other Vespa species ranged from 39 bp (V. velutina) to 2,230 bp (V. v. auraria). Compared to the majority of insects, the gene arrangement of V. binghami had differences as followings: trnY-trnI-trnM-trnQ, trnN-trnE-trnS1-trnF, and trnS2-trnL1. However, all species in the genus Vespa registered in GenBank to date were composed of the same arrangement. Phylogenetic analysis using 13 PCGs and 2 rRNA genes showed the sister relationship between V. binghami and V. orientalis with the higher nodal supports.

Bombyx mandarina (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), the presumed ancestor of the domesticated silkworm B. mori, has long been a subject of study to illustrate the geographic relationships in connection with origin of B. mori. We sequenced 100 mitochondrial genomes of B. mandarina collected from South Korea and Japan and these were combined with public data. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses showed that all individuals collected in South Korea, except one individual from Inje, formed a strong group together with northern China and some individuals of southern China. This group was placed as the sister group to B. mori strains, suggesting that this group could have been served as an immediate progenitor for B. mori. For further robust inference more analysis is underway.

The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, is highly polyphagous pest that damages over 400 plant species, including commercially grown crops and fruits. It was first described in Taiwan and has since invaded Japan and China. In 2021, B. dorsalis was reported on Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea (ROK). To investigate its origin and understand its colonization pathway in ROK, the genetic characteristics were analyzed by using mitochondrial genes. The study analyzed the haplotypes and genetic differences among populations oriental fruit flies collected from Southeast Aisa, including Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome B (CytB) were used for the analysis. The results showed that B. dorsalis had high levels of haplotype diversity among species. No major haplotype was found among populations. The present study enhances our understanding of the haplotype diversity of B. dorsalis in neighboring countries of ROK. This will expand our knowledge of the source of origin and invasive pathway for B. dorsalis.

Spodoptera eridania and S. ornithogalli (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which are polyphagous pests that damage various crops such as tomatoes and beans are regulated quarantine species that are highly likely to invade South Korea. Therefore, it is crucial to promptly and accurately identify the presence of S. eridania and S. ornithogalli in crop fields to effectively eradicate as a regulated quarantine species. In this study, we developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, which allows for rapid in-field identification. To develop the LAMP　assay, we selected target species-specific genomic regions from the whole-genome sequences of one target and 13 other lepidopteran species. We validated each five and six primer sets that consistently produced positive reactions in S. eridania and S. ornithogalli, respectively. To test the sensitivity of the each locus, LAMP reactions were performed using various reaction times using crude DNA, which was extracted from various types of adult tissues. All sensitivity tests were also successful.

Climate change has led to increased insect pests and pest distribution changes. Traditionally, chemical control using synthetic pesticides has been the main method for pest management, but the emergence of pesticide-resistant pests has become a problem. There is a need to develop new pest control agents to overcome these issues. Entomopathogenic fungi used in pest management have minimal environmental side effects and possess a mechanism of action distinct from that of synthetic pesticides. However, there is a need for the development of technologies to maximize the insecticidal effects of fungi against pests, and expressing and releasing dsRNA within the fungi can preemptively knock out the activation of the insect’s defense system, thereby enhancing the insecticidal effect. Controlling insect defense genes and using entomopathogenic fungi as bio-carriers forms a new pest management strategy. This approach, described as a “microbial insecticide agents development strategy of cassette concept, ” can versatilely modify genes and microbes. It is expected to overcome the limitations of synthetic pesticides.