The habitat of the cockroach varies by species. The German cockroach (Blattella germanica) lives in human dwellings, while the Japanese field roach (Blattella nipponica) lives in a mountainous region. Based on phylogenetic analysis of mtCO I, the two species are closely related to each other and B. germanica is divergent from wild species such as B. nipponica. Their habitats and walking speed differ even though the two species have similar morphology. We hypothesized that habitats might influence walking speed via changes to appendage morphology and enzyme-based physiological differences. We found that phenotype such as appendage length and esterase isozyme expression were clearly different between the two species. These differences might be responsible for the observed difference in walking speed.
The genus Bioxylus Fleutiaux, 1923 is reported for the first time in Korea with three species, Bioxylus natsumiae Watanabe, 2009, B. pilosellus Hisamatsu, 1959 and B. personatus Mamaev, 1976. Diagnosis of the genus Bioxylus, a key to species and illustrations are provided.
The jumping plant-lice of Laos are reviewed based on material collected during recent expeditions by the Seoul National University (2012−2015) and the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel (2003−2012). To date, only three psyllid species, viz. Diaphorina citri, Heteropsylla cubana and Pseudophacopteron tuberculatum, are recorded from Laos. In the material at hand, 22 species (of 6 families and 16 genera) are represented. This collection includes the three previously reported species and eight species reported for the first time from Laos. Eleven species are identified only to genus due to insufficient material.
The essential oils of three Coriandrum sativum seeds cultivated from India, Russia and America were evaluated for acaricidal toxicities against Dermatophagoides farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae. The oils of three C. sativum seeds were analyzed by gas chromatography. The oil of C. sativum seeds cultivated from India included substantially linalool (66.8%) and camphor (6.46%). In the fumigant bioassay, based on the LD50 values against D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus, and T. putrescentiae, the oil of C. sativum seeds cultivated from America (LD50, 2.62, 2.74, and 2.88 μg/cm3) was about 3.75, 3.32, and 4.17 times more active higher than benzyl benzoate (9.85, 9.10 and, 12.01 μg/cm3). The acaricidal activity of the oil of C. sativum seeds cultivated from India was 2.27, 2.03, and 2.64 times higher than that of the benzyl benzoate, followed by Russia oil. These results suggest that the oils of three C. sativum seeds might be used as suitable acaricides.
Bombolitin is a venom peptide originally isolated from bumblebees and possesses various biological activities, including hemolytic activity. Bombolitins exhibit amphipathic α-helical structure in lipid-membrane-mimicking environments. To investigate their pharmacological and toxicological properties, anti-tumor, anti-microbial and cytotoxic activities of bombolitins from Bombus ardens and Bombus ussurensis were evaluated. Bombolitins of the two species exhibited extremely high anti-tumor activity against ovarian tumor cells SK-OV-3 and NIH; OVCAR-3 at 25-50 μM, which is 2-fold more potent than other wasp venom peptides studied to date (Yoon et al., 2015; Yoon et al., 2016). The two bombolitins showed significantly high antimicrobial activity. However, bombolotin of B. ussurensis showed no antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. In addition to their high levels of anti-tumor activity, bombolitins showed considerable levels of hemolytic activity. Thus, to utilize bombolitins as a potential candidate for anti-tumor peptide drugs, further studies for reducing cytotoxic properties of bombolitns is essential.
Two cryptic species of the black-tailed bamboo aphid, Takecallis arundicolens (Clarke, 1903), are revealed based on DNA barcoding and nymph morphology. Three species, T. arundicolens, T. sp.1 nov. and T. sp.2 nov. have significant genetic differences ranged from 2-8% but, only subtly differing in their nymph morphology. In this study, molecular analyses and morphological comparisons are presented including species keys for alatoid nymphs.
The genus Saissetia Deplanche is newly reported from Laos, including two new species, Saissetia simulocoffeae Choi & Lee, sp. n. and S. quasioleae Choi & Lee sp. n., and a first record of S. miranda (Cockerell & Parrott, 1899). A key to all five species of Saissetia known from Indochina is provided. The DNA barcodes (mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I-mtCOI) of the two new species were obtained for future use.
This studies was conducted to compare functional diversity of terrestrial arthropods in commercial apple orchards under conventional and organic practices. We collected terrestiral arthropods using pitfall traps in four conventional and seven organic apple orchards from April to October, 2012-2014. Sampled arthropods were identified at the species level and then classified three functional groups (detritivores, herbivores and beneficial arthropods included pollinators, parasitoids and predators). Biodiversity was analyzed with species richness, abundance and shannon index for each group and compared between conventional and organic orchards. In results, species richness of detritivores and benefical arthropods were higher in organic orchards than in conventional orchards (detritivores: t=-2.68, df=9, P=0.03; beneficial arthropods: t=-3.98, df=9, P=0.003). Organic orchards showed significant difference at abundance of beneficial arthropods (t=-3.33, df=9, P=0.008) and higher shannon index at detritivores (t=-2.36, df=9, P=0.04) than conventional orchards. However, all biodiversity indices of herbivores were not significantly different between conventional and organic orchards at 95% confidence level.
The genus Trissolcus Ashmead is an egg parasitoid of the family Pentatomidae, of which species are used for biocontrol agents for sting bug pests. Until now, 8 species of Trissolcus were recorded from South Korea. In this study, two species, Trissolcus plautiae (Watanabe) and T. elasmuchae (Watanabe, 1954), are newly recognized from Korean peninsula. Diagnosis, photographs and key to species are provided.
Recent research has suggested that the dietary protein:carbohydrate (P:C) balance is a critical determinant of fitness in insects. In this study, we examined the effects of dietary P:C balance on life-time reproductive success in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor. Both males and females lived the longest when fed on P:C 1:1 diet. Throughout their adult lives, females fed on P:C 1:1 diet laid significantly more eggs than those on nutritionally imbalanced diets (P:C 1:5 or 5:1). When given a choice, beetles regulated their intake of protein and carbohydrate to a ratio close to 1:1. Taken together, our results indicate the balanced intake of protein and carbohydrate maximizes life-time reproductive success in this species.
We evaluated the larvicidal activity of 12 Apiaceae plant essential oils and their components against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, and the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase with their components. Of the 12 plant essential oils tested, ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi), caraway seed (Carum carvi), carrot seed (Daucus carota), celery (Apium graveolens), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), dill (Anethum graveolens), and parsley (Petroselinum sativum) resulted in >90% larval mortality when used at 0.1 mg/mL. Of the compounds identified, α-phellandrene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, (-)-limonene, (+)-limonene, γ-terpinene, cuminaldehyde, neral, (S)-+-carvone, trans-anethole, thymol, carvacrol, myristicin, apiol, and carotol resulted in >80% larval mortality when used at 0.1 mg/mL.
We evaluated the repellent activity of 12 Apiaceae plant essential oils and their components against male and female adult German cockroaches, Blattella germanica, to find new natural repellents. Of the plant essential oils tested, ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) and dill (Anethum graveolens) essential oils showed the most potent repellent activity against male and female adult German cockroaches. Of the compounds identified, carvacrol, thymol, and R-(-)-carvone showed >80% repellent activity against male and female adult German cockroaches at 0.2 mg/L air concentration. S-(+)-Carvone, (+)-dihydrocarvone, and terpinen-4-ol showed >70% repellent activity against male and female adult German cockroaches at 0.8 mg/L air concentration. Our results indicated that Apiaceae plant essential oils and their constituent have good potential as natural repellents against adult German cockroaches.
Colony collapse disorder (CCD), a phenomenon of honeybees disappearance, has been reported since 2006. Chronic exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides, particularly imidacloprid, has been suggested to impair forager’s ability for foraging and be a main cause of CCD. Recently, it has been reported that imidacloprid induces insulin resistance in animal cell line by blocking glucose uptake. Similarly to human insulin, insulin-like peptide (ILP) of insects is involved in maintaining blood glucose contents in hemolymph by regulating the concentration of trehalose and glycogen. Therefore, we have hypothesized that sublethal concentration of neonicotinoid may affect the metabolic pathway of honey bees as well. We investigated the transcription levels of the genes involved in the insulin/insulin-like signaling (IIS) pathway, such as AmILP and AmInR, following an acute or a chronic dietary exposure of sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid to foragers. In both experiments, honeybees showed increased expression levels of ILP and InR in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that sublethal dose of imidacloprid likely upregulates IIS pathway, thereby rendering honey bees to become resistant to insulin.
The American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae Hughes, 1961 (Acari: Pyroglyphidae), is recognized as an important source of allergens in the domestic environment. An assessment was made of the toxicity of constituents from essential oil of cade, Juniperus oxycedrus L. (Cupressaceae), and related compounds as well as four experimental spray formulations containing the oil (10–40 g/liter sprays) to adult D. farinae. In a contact + fumigant mortality bioassay, methyleugenol (24-h LC50,5.82 μg/cm2) and guaiacol (8.24 μg/cm2) were the most toxic constituents to the mites and the toxicity of these constituents and benzyl benzoate did not differ significantly.
Bee pollen have been used for centuries as a kind of traditional medicine and food diets additive due to their nutritional and biological properties. The present study was to evaluate the biological features of ethanol extracts of 18 different bee pollen (EEBP) samples collected from 16 locations of South Korea. Our results indicated most of the EEBP samples showed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, inhibitory activities against human β-amyloid precursor cleavage enzyme (BACE-1), and antiproliferative activities towards five cancer cell lines. However, these EEBP samples did not present human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities, and intestinal bacteria growth inhibitory activities.
Suborder Psocomorpha belongs to Psocoptera is one of minor order. Psocids occupy a wide range of habitats, from living as indoor, if outdoor most are presented on bark or foliage of dead or leaving tree and shrubs. All specimens of Psocomorpha that found in the field were putted into 75% of alcohol. Preparation and dissection were done before identification. Previously the list of Psocomorpha comprised 14 species. This most recent collection found nine species. Among of them, two species belong to two families; [Amphipsocidae] Amphipsocus japonicas (Enderlein, 1906) and [Psocidae] Psococerastis tokyoensis (Enderlein, 1906) are report in Korea in the first time.
야생의 모래거저리(Gonocephalum pubens)를 실내 사육에 필요한 사료, 온도, 습도 등의 사육조건에 따른 결과를 비교 분석하였다. 산란 수, 부화율, 부화 전 기간 등에 가장 효율적인 모래거저리의 주 사료는 밀기울 배지로 조사되었으 며, 채란 후 60일 경과일수에 생체중은 밀기울 배지에 유충이 14.65±0.44mg으로 가장 높게 나타났다. 온도에 따른 유충의 발육기간는 15℃에서는 산란이 이루어지지 않았으며 20℃에서 222.26±0.41일로 가장 길었으며 30℃에서 158.52±0.46일로 가장 짧은 일수를 나타내어 온도가 증가할수록 유충의 발육기간이 짧아짐을 보였다. 평균온도 25℃, 평균 상대습도 50%, 광주기 14시간의 조건에서 유충의 발육기간은 갈색거저리(Tenebrio molitor L.)에 비해 모래거저리가 20.66일이 더 길었으며 150일 경과일수에서의 체중은 갈색거저리가 57.1mg이 더 많았다. 모래거저리 유충의 영양성분, 항생잔류성, 병원성미생물 등 종합 분석한 결과 상업용 거저리로 활용 가치가 있는 것으로 사료된다.
A cDNA isolated from female adult heads of Maruca vitrata encodes 197 amino acids including PBAN. Synthetic Mav-PBAN induced pheromone production in the pheromone gland, indicating that this synthetic peptide was biologically functional. Expression of Mav-PBAN cDNA was found in all examined body parts whereas PBAN receptor only in the pheromone gland. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 191 contigs involved in the pheromone biosynthesis such as PBAN receptor, PBAN, fatty acid transport proteins, acetyl-CoA carboxylases, fatty acid synthases, desaturases (FAD), β-oxidation enzymes, and fatty acyl-CoA reductases (FARs) were identified.
The genus Ypsolopha Latreille, 1796, belongs to the family Ypsolophidae, small to medium sized moth, with more than 160 described species around world.
Japanese species, Ypsolopha fujimotoi Moriuti, 1964 is reported from Korea for the first time. Additionally, we compare two smilar species, Ypsolopha fujimotoi and Y. longa.
In the present study, we provided two Ypsolophid species, including adult photographs, genitalia pictures and descriptions. Voucher specimens are deposited in the Animal Diversity Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Incheon National University, Korea.
Two species of the genus Herpetogramma Ledere are reported for the first time from Korea: Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker) and Herpetogramma stultalis (Walker). The larvae of H. stultalis are well known pest of Achyranthes aspera. Also H. licarsisalis important pest of turf and some other grass crops in Hawaii, Australasia, and Southeast Asia. The description, host plants, adult photographs, and pictures of male and female genitalia are provided.