Calonecrinae represent a unique but small subfamily of Nitidulidae that is endemic to South Asia. Their habitats, the South Asian lowland forests, are under the imminent threat of degradation, posing a risk of rapid extinction for these species in their specific locales. Despite the looming threat to their existence, our understanding of this enigmatic group remains limited. We conducted an examination of museum and newly collected specimens, alongside a review of the literature, leading to the discovery of a new species, Calonecrus mindanaoensis, from Mindanao, Philippines. For the first time, the morphology of all immature stages of the Calonecrinae was described, with detailed photographs including SEM images. Additionally, their natural history was uncovered for the first time, revealing that all life stages are uniquely adapted to spending their entire life cycle within sticky resin. We re-evaluated the phylogenetic placement of the Calonecrinae by constructing a phylogenetic tree based on the mitochondrial genome. Calonecrinae are positioned within the Epuraeinae clade and show significant affinity with the genus Trimenus. Consequently, this study proposes reclassifying Calonecrinae as Calonecrini stat nov, an extremely modified tribe within the Epuraeinae.
Flower chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) are globally distributed, comprising approximately 4,000 described species. They primarily feed on nectar and sap of deciduous trees. The larvae exhibit the unique characteristic of crawling on their backs, distinguishing them from other scarabs. Additionally, the majority of flower chafers fly with their elytra closed, unlike other scarabs that fly with fully opened wings. Šípek et al. (2016) conducted the first molecular phylogenetic study to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and characters of elytra related to the flight mode. Building upon this study, we infer the diversification times and rates of Cetoniinae and its subgroups, and reconstruct the evolutionary process of flight mode transformation. Furthermore, we discuss the current limitations and future directions of this topic.
Chromosomal level of Korean Diadegma fenestrale (Jeju strain, JK-2023a) of genome assembly was achieved through a combined approach utilizing Nanopore long-read sequencing and Illumina NovaSeq short-read sequencing (approximately 217.2× coverage). The assembled genome spans 221.1 Mb, comprises 68 scaffolds, with most of the genome contained within 11 chromosomal level scaffolds. The completeness of the assembly is reflected in BUSCO assessment, with values reaching 99.6%. Scaffold N50 was 17.4 Mb, and GC % was 40%. RNAseq was performed using RNA extracted from larvae, pupae, and adults at various developmental stages (trimmed RNA-Seq data, 11.3 Gb), and a total of 13,544 genes were predicted by synthesizing the transcriptome information with the annotation information of five closely related species such as, Campoletis sonorensis (GCA_013761285.1), Venturia canescens (GCF_019457755.1), and Nasonia vitripennis (GCF_000002325.3, and GCF_009193385.2). Of these, 13,498 genes were identified by BLAST and are being further analyzed. Although the frequency of DfIV genome integration into the host’s 11 chromosomes varies from 0 to 32%, it was confirmed that all 62 DfIV genome fragments were inserted into the Hymenopteran host genome.
This study investigates the phenomenon of task specialization in subterranean termites, focusing on their tunneling behavior. Termites, known for their complex social structure, allocate specific individuals for tunnel construction, rarely switching tasks. To explore this behavior, we developed a simulation model comparing termite groups with and without task shifts. While tunnel orientation showed no significant difference between the two tunnel pattern groups, the absence of task shifts resulted in larger tunnels, indicating enhanced foraging efficiency. This suggests that maintaining a consistent division of labor without task rotation benefits termite foraging. This study sheds light on the ecological advantages of task specialization in social insects, highlighting its role in foraging success and colony survival.
동물의 종 유지에 있어서 교미행동은 매우 중요한 위치를 차지함. 교미과정에서 수컷의 경우 모든 암컷에 대해 성행동을 보이는반면, 암컷은 가장 적절한 교미의 시기를 정하며, 적절한 수컷을 선택하고 교미행동을 보이기 때문에 암컷의 교미행동을 유도하는 과정은 생물학에서 매우 중요한 의미를 지님. 본 연구에서는 초파리 (Drosophila melanogaster) 전자현미경자료와 총신경망분석 (Connectomics)을 이용하여 초파리 뇌에서 암컷의 교미행동을 조절하는 것으로 알려진 pC1신경의 하부신경 pC1b,c가 성적 성숙과정에서 교미를 하고자 하는 욕구 (sexual drive)를 증가시키는 기능을 하는 것을 처음으로 밝힘. 본 연구에서는 처음으로 pC1b,c 신경 내의 cAMP 수준이 교미의 욕구변화를 보여주는 중요한 물질이라는 것을 밝혔고 cAMP의 수준이 오르기 위해서는 신경펩티 드인 Dh44와 그 수용체 GPCR인 Dh44R1과 Dh44R2가 필요하다는 것을 확인함. 또한 cAMP의 변화는 신경내의 CREBB를 통하여 하위 유전자인 pyx (pyrexia)의 발현을 유도한다는 것을 밝힘. 본 연구로 종 유지 메커니즘을 좀 더 이해할 수 있음.
From invertebrate to vertebrate, females uptake sperm for a specific duration post-copulation known as the ejaculate holding period (EHP) before expelling un-stored sperm and the mating plug through sperm ejection. Our study uncovered that encountering males or mated females after mating substantially shortens EHP, a phenomenon we term ‘male-induced EHP shortening (MIES)’. MIES requires Or47b+ olfactory and ppk23+ gustatory neurons, activated by 2-methyltetracosane and 7-tricosene, respectively. These odorants raise cAMP levels in pC1b and c neurons, which are responsible for processing male courtship and regulating female receptivity. Elevated cAMP levels in pC1b and c reduce EHP and reinstate their responsiveness to male courtship cues, promoting re-mating with faster sperm ejection. This study establishes MIES as a genetically tractable model of sexual plasticity with a conserved neural mechanism.
한국 귀뚜라미 산업은 최근 큰 성장을 보였으며, 수직농장을 이용한 대량생산과 기술발전으로 사육수와 판매 량이 늘어나는 추세다. 그러나 귀뚜라미 사육시스템은 농가 간의 교류 및 밀집 사육으로 인해 곤충병원체에 의한 전염병에 매우 취약한 구조를 가진다. 사육 곤충의 질병을 이해하는 것이 중요함에도 곤충병원성 미생물에 대한 연구가 부족한 실정이다. 본 연구는 국내 쌍별귀뚜라미 농가에서 발견된 볼보바이러스를 식별하였으며, Gryllus bimaculatus volvovirus (GbVVV-KR)의 게놈 특성을 분석하였다. GbVVV-KR의 전체 게놈 서열은 Sanger 시퀀싱 을 통해 얻어졌으며, 게놈 크기가 2,515개 뉴클레오티드인 원형 단일가닥 DNA 바이러스임을 밝혔다. 단일 핵산 염기 다형현상 분석(Single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP)으로 정지코돈 돌연변이로 인한 ORF3 영역이 다른 귀뚜 라미 volvovirus 들에 비해 큰 변화를 확인하였다. 또한, 전국 11개 농장에서 수집한 귀뚜라미를 대상으로 PCR/qPCR을 실시하여 GbVVV-KR의 감염 정도를 확인하였다. 이러한 결과는 GbVVV-KR의 게놈 구조와 유전 적 특성, 계통발생 및 유병률에 대한 귀중한 통찰력을 제공하고 귀뚜라미 바이러스에 대한 이해를 도울 것으로 기대한다.
As new AI techniques are developed and various types of big data accumulated, new approaches for pest management are also being attempted. Various spatio-temporal scale big data are being accumulated, and attempts are being made to utilize them to classify target objects and analyze their characteristics. Remote sensing data is widely used across various fields, and is being measured, stored, and shared in diverse formats. Hyperspectral imaging and satellite data are ecologically relevant big data, with distinct formats and potential applications. We will introduce real-world AI examples of utilizing hyperspectral image analysis, as well as estimating pest population density using satellite data.
Six mosquito species in the Anopheles Hyrcanus group are known as vectors responsible for transmitting vivax malaria in South Korea. In this study, seasonal dynamics of Anopheles Hyrcanus group species and knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in malaria-endemic sites, Paju and Gimpo, were monitored over two years. In August 2023, all six species were observed simultaneously in one of the Paju collecting sites, and kdr mutations were newly identified in all species except Anopheles kleini. Although Anopheles pullus was revealed as a relatively resistant species among five species populations without kdr mutation via bioassays, there were no critical differences in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel sequence. These findings suggest variability in pyrethroid resistance mechanisms among Anopheles Hyrcanus Group species.
The yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), has long been used as a key study organism in many fundamental researches, including biochemistry, physiology, and behavior. Lifespan and reproduction are two of the most important components of fitness in all insects, but it remains largely unexplored how these two traits are influenced by macronutrient intake in this beetle. In this study, we used the nutritional geometry framework to analyze the complex and interactive effects of dietary protein and carbohydrate intake on lifespan and reproductive performance in T. molitor beetle. Lifespan and the number of eggs laid throughout the lifetime were quantified from more than 2,000 individual beetles provided with one of 35 chemically defined diets representing a full combination of seven protein-to-carbohydrate ratios (P:C= 0:1, 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, or 1:0) and five protein plus carbohydrate concentrations (P+C=25.2, 33.6, 42, 50.4, or 58.8 %, dry mass). All measures of lifespan and egg production were expressed highly at high caloric intake, but they differed in the optimal P:C ratio where traits peaked. While lifespan was the longest at a moderately carbohydrate-biased P:C ratio of 1:1.36, the rate of egg production was maximized at a protein-biased P:C ratio of 1.75:1, suggesting a possible nutrient-mediated trade-off between lifespan and daily reproductive efforts in T. molitor beetles. Lifetime egg production was maximized at a P:C ratio of 1.31:1, which was still protein-biased but lower than that maximized egg production rate. Reproductive lifespan was the longest at a P:C ratio of 1:1.06. When given a food choice, T. molitor beetles preferred a P:C ratio of 1:1, which is closest to the ratio that enables T. molitor beetles to stay reproductively active as long as possible.
Six new species are described that are members of the New Zealand endemic genus Adalmus Reitter (Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae: Euplectitae: Trichonychini: Panaphantina): A. bullerensis sp. nov., A. kanierensis sp. nov., A. karekarensis sp. nov., A. mangamukaensis sp. nov., A. puberilumbus sp. nov., and A. serrilumbus sp. nov. In addition, Dalmisus Sharp is placed as a junior synonym of Adalmus (gen. syn.) and the species Dalmisus batrisodes Sharp, 1886, Plectomorphus longiceps Broun, 1913 and P. longipes Broun, 1912 are placed as junior synonyms of A. velutinus Reitter, 1885 spp. syn. Also, P. rugiceps Broun, 1921 is transferred to the genus Adalmus, comb. nov. Adalmus now holds eight species.
Nialoe Tanaka, 1958 is a subgenus of the ground beetle genus Pterostichus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), endemic to East Asia. In a wide sense of Nialoe, it consists of more than 200 species, which has reduced hindwing and possibly diversified by geographical isolation due to poor dispersal ability. To understand this vast group, phylogenetic studies have been conducted, showing that Nialoe s. lat. comprises of five subgenera: Nialoe s. str., Sphodroferonia, Koreonialoe, and two unnamed subgenera. However, there is little knowledge regarding their origin and dispersal. In this study, we examine phylogenetic relationships among the five subgenera of Nialoe s. lat. based on 28S rRNA, wingless, COI, and 16S rRNA. The molecular clock and S-DIVA analyses are devised to investigate the biogeographical history of the group in East Asia. This study may give insight into the biogeographical dispersal and diversification of East Asian carabids.
The genus Vespa consists of 22 species worldwide, and their phylogenetic relationships are well established through adult morphology and molecular analyses. However, taxonomic studies of larvae are lacking. In this study, we provided descriptions and taxonomic keys for eight species of Korean Vespa larvae.
The tribe Bythinini Raffray is species-rich pselaphine group including over 600 species distributed worldwide. Despite its diversity, only one genus, Bryaxis Kugelann, has been reported in Korea. In this study, we newly describe Bryaxis sp. n. mainly based on the male antennal modification. We also report a new species of the genus Tychobythinus Ganglbauer from Korea. Members of these two bythinine genera are commonly characterized by the traits of maxillary palpi: elongated second palpomere, shortened penultimate, and enlarged last one. In addition, we conducted phylogenetic analyses to demonstrate the relevance between antennal modification and evolutionary relationship of Bryaxis. To perform the phylogenetic construction, we assembled three mitochondrial genes (cox1, cox2, and 16S) and three nuclear genes (18S, 28S, and wingless) into a dataset. Eleven species of Bryaxis and two Tychobythinus species are included, the latter genus of which are used to root the consensus trees.
The genus Paragabara is recognized as a member of the subfamily Boletobiinae, with six species in the Eastern Palaearctic. In Korea, three species of this genus are known. Konoenko et al. (2010) designated a lectotype for P. flavomacula (Oberthür, 1880) and described a new species, P. curvicornuta. In this study, the misidentification of the Korean P. flavomacula as P. curvicornuta has been corrected. Additionally, one newly recorded species, P. curvicornuta, is reported from Korea. In total, four Paragabara species are recognized in Korea. All available information, images of adults, a checklist, and male and female genitalia, etc., are provided.
The genus Cephennodes Reitter (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) comprises approximately 220 species worldwide within three subgenera (Cephennodes, Aculeodes, Fusionodes). In Korea, two species are recorded: C. (s. str) japonicus (Sharp) and C. (Fusionodes) graeseriReitter. The two subgenera, Cephennodes and Fusionodes, can be distinguished by the form of the parameres in relation to the median lobe, whether fused or divided. In this study, we redescribed two species: C. (s. str) japonicus and C. (Fusionodes) graeseri. Additionally, Cephennodes (Fusionodes) ussuricus (Kurbatov) is recorded first time in Korea. Images of habitus, aedeagus, and a distribution map are provided.
Stathmopodidae, in the superfamily Gelechioidea, was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1913. This family has various characteristics, such as feeding on crops, moss, spores of fern, aphids, etc., but there is a lot of difficulty in identification due to morphological similarities between species. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the genitalia structure through dissection, but this process necessarily involves damage to the type specimen. To solve these problems, Micro-CT(Computed Tomography) which allows observation of internal structures without damage, was utilized to create a 3D model of the genitalia. In this study, the genitalia structure of Stathmopoda pedella (Linnaeus, 1761), the type species of Stathmopodidae, was imaged using Micro-CT under a resolution of 4 um conditions, providing a 3D description.
A taxonomic study was conducted on Spilonota Stephens, 1834 in Korea. As a result of the research based on materials from Incheon National University two new species; S. samseong Choi, Bae & Nasu, and S. laticucullusa Choi, Bae & Nasu from Korea. This study provides a brief description of the new Spilonota species in Korea, as well as comparisons with similar species and illustrations of adult and genital morphology.
Eriocraniidae is a microleidopteran family (Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae) that includes six genera and distributed to the Holarctic region. The larvae of this family are known leaf miners, typically infesting Betula and Ouercus. Herein. the first reord of the genus Dyeriocrania Spuler, 1910 in Korea is presented, including the previously undscribed species. Adult and female genitalia are provided based on illustrations.
The genus Acronicta Ochsenheimer, 1816 is known as a forest pest. The acronictine species is widely distributed across the Afrotropical, Oriental, Australian, and Neartic regions. This study presents a new record of an acronictine species from Korea, including descriptions, illustrations, and diagnostic characteristics. Additionally, the CO1 barcode data of the newly recorded species is compared with the global barcode reference at the species level. New data on the recently recorded species has been obtained from this study. This information will aid in the prompt identification and preparation for potential pest outbreaks.