고자리꽃파리는 양파 및 마늘 등 백합과 Allium 속에 속하는 농작물에 중요한 해충으로 전 세계적으로 온대지역에 서 경제적 해충으로 취급하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존 자료를 바탕으로 월동번데기의 성충으로 우화모델를 작성하 고 포장 실측자료와 비교하여 평가하였다. 월동번데기 발육모형으로 선형과 비선형모형을 작성하고 발육기간 분포 모형과 결합하여 예찰모형을 작성하였다. 비선형발육모형 작성시 3-매개변수 락틴모형 적용뿐만 아니라 4-매개변 수 모형의 마지막 변수 값을 선형모형의 절편값으로 대체하여 저온에서 선형성이 강화도록 변형시켰다. 성충우화 50% 예측에서 일일평균온도를 이용하는 경우 적산온도 모형을 비롯하여 발육률 적산모형(선형식 및 비선형식) 모두 실측치와 큰 차이가 있었다. 시간별온도를 입력값으로 한 경우 3-매개변수 모형을 제외한 사인곡선 적산온도 모형, 선형 발육률 적산모형, 4-매개변수 비선형 발육률 적산모형의 평균편차는 3일과 차이가 없었다. 최종적으로 선형모형 및 4-매개변수 비선형모형을 바탕으로 시간별온도자료를 이용한 발육률 적산모형은 선발하였다. 그 결과 선형 발육률 적산모형이 두 포장적합 집단(1984, 1987)에서 실측일과 편차가 3일과 차이가 없었다. 비선형 발육률 적산모형은 1984년 적합은 0.8일 편차로 정확하였으나 1987년 집단에서 평균편차가 6.5일로 다소 증가하였다.

The Japanese pine sawyer (JPS), Monochamus alternatus Hope, is an important vector of the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer), which causes pine wilt disease. JPS selects a characteristic life cycle of a four- or five-instar pathway, which indicates the number of instars before pupation. In this study, we investigated the potential presence of a three-instar pathway and sought to determine the minimum larval age required for JPS to construct a pupal chamber. The results showed that no third instars made pupal chambers, suggesting that there is no three-instar pathway. The initiation time of digging the tunnel to make the pupal chamber ranged widely from Julian date 274 (30 September) to 332 (27 November). This timing became an average age stage of 4.8 instar, which equals an 80% completion of the fourth instar. Thus, the minimum larval age at which JPS constructs the tunnel to pupate the next year is estimated to be late in the fourth larval instar. Further, we discuss the diapause ecology in relation to the larval development of JPS in different thermal environments. Tentatively, we suggest that the regulation of diapause induction in JPS involves a dual process of reaching a critical developmental stage and stimulus (tentatively a cold temperature). This hypothesis will be helpful for future studies of diapause mechanisms and the selection of the instar-pathway in JPS and related species.

연구에서는 '누리금잠'이라 명명된 새로운 누에 신품종을 개발하였으며, 이는 황색 고치와 세리신 고치를 생산 하는 두 개의 기존 계통, 잠311과 D751의 교배를 통해 육성되었습니다. 이 신품종은 첫 교배 실험을 거친 2019년 봄부터 2021년 봄까지 총 4차례의 생산력 평가를 진행했으며, 이어진 2022년 봄부터 2023년 가을까지 4차례에 걸친 지역 적응성 평가를 통해 2023년 가을에 새로운 품종으로 공식 인정받았습니다. '누리금잠'은 봄과 가을 시즌에 각각 평균 부화율 86.9%, 89.6%를 기록하였고, 유충의 평균 성장 기간은 봄에는 21일과 12시간, 가을에는 19일과 22시간으로 나타났습니다. 세리신 고치의 평균 생산성은 봄에 79.17%, 가을에 74.9%였으며, 수확된 세리 신의 평균 중량은 누에고치 250개를 기준으로 봄에 6g, 가을에는 7.7g으로 측정되었습니다. 이와 같은 결과는 '누리금잠'이 높은 부화율과 우수한 세리신 생산성을 갖추고 있음을 시사합니다. 이는 세리 신 기반 제품의 생산 효율성을 증가시킬 뿐만 아니라, 양잠산업의 경제적 가치를 상승시키는 데 기여할 수 있을 것으로 생각됩니다.

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 effective management of insect pests requires decisions based on monitoring information. In this study, we aimed to monitor insect species diversity and monthly occurrence patterns on the golf course using light traps. Sampling was conducted at Anyang Country Club, Korea, from May to October 2023. A total of 5,149 individuals were collected, with Lepidoptera and Coleoptera being the most abundant orders. Among them, there were six species (Agrotis ipsilon, Blitopertha orientalis, Heptophylla picea, Maladera orientalis, Parapediasia teterrella, and Spodoptera depravata) of insect pests that caused serious damage to the turfgrass. The results of this study could be used as data to establish efficient management strategies for turfgrass insect pests.

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.

Jeju Island has been facing to threat of high-risk invasive pests from tropical areas. To protect domestic agriculture from those invasive pests, APQA has conducted a regular monitoring program on Jeju Island. We collected especially phototactic heteroceran pests by light bucket trap and identified them using their superficial appearances, and also mitochondria COI gene. As a result, a total of 24 families, 136 genera, 193 species, and 819 individuals were collected from around Jeju Island in 2023. Among them, two unidentified epidopteran pests, Palpita sp. (Crambidae) and Xyrosaris sp. (Yponomeutidae) were collected. In the present study, we report two unidentified micro-lepidopteran pests using superficial characteristics and mitochondria COI gene.

Here we review the genus Nycteola of the Nolidae (Lepidoptera). As the result of this study, we recognized already synonymized species N. costalis Sugi, 1959 of N. coreana (Leech, 1900) and newly recorded species N. dufayi Sugi, 1982. Whlie the number of Korean Nycteola species remain unchanged, the composition has been changed.

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.

This study focused on the genomic analysis of Anopheles kleini and Anopheles pullus, both vectors of vivax malaria within the Anopheles Hyrcanus group. Using Illumina NovaSeq600 and Oxford Nanopore platforms, we identified 126 and 116 contigs, along with 40,420 and 32,749 genes from An. kleini and An. pullus, respectively. The assembled genome sizes were 282 Mb for An. kleini and 247 Mb for An. pullus, which are within a similar range to the sizes previously estimated by digital PCR (249 Mb and 226 Mb). We are currently also estimating the genome sizes of other Anopheles spp. and manually curating key genes determining vectorial capacity.

Scabies, caused by an infestation of the skin with the itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), is highly contagious and classified as a prevalent neglected tropical diseases. The current diagnostic approach relies solely on clinical judgment based on symptoms, history, and microscopic observation by an experienced dermatologist. To enhance sensitivity and specificity, we developed an alternative method based on mite-derived DNA. Our method involves a quick DNA release from skin scraping samples and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) targeting the scabies mite-specific DNA sequences, enabling diagnosis within 30 minutes. Importantly, no cross-reactivity was observed when the sample was contaminated by two house dust mite species, and false positives were barely detected. Currently, we are in the process of developing a Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) kit for a scabies survey targeting school-age children in Timor-Leste as a global health project.

Parasites have co-evolved with their host for a long period of time, resulting in unique parasitic systems tailored to each host species. This makes them suitable for research on physiological function control through cross-species molecules like miRNA. The body louse, a vector of bacterial pathogens, is particularly valuable as a model insect due to their frequent feeding on human blood, which results in the continuous ingestion of human-derived miRNA and injection of salivary gland-derived miRNA into the human body. In this study, we conducted miRNA sequencing on body lice with mixed stages and identified 105 miRNAs, including 50 novel miRNAs. Sequence analysis of human miRNAs remaining in body lice and the functional analysis of these miRNAs are in progress.

The recent increase in the occurrence of common bed bug and tropical bed bug in shared areas highlights the need for rapid species identification at infestation sites, which is crucial for implementing targeted control measures due to differences in genetic and physiological traits. In this study, molecular diagnostic methods were developed using species-specific ITS2 sequences. Both multiplex PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) protocols with a DNA release method successfully distinguished between the two bed bug species regardless of developmental stages in 0.5~2.5 hours, even with dead specimens. Especially, LAMP's simplicity and speed make it applicable for rapid and accurate bed bug diagnosis at infestation sites.

Fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major pest worldwide, and since its first domestic invasion was confirmed in 2019, its damage has been steadily increasing in crops such as corn until recently. In order to provide basic data for the management of FAW, we conducted a comparison of host preference and nutritional composition analysis of corn varieties. A total of 12 varieties of corn were selected for the experiment. To investigate the preference among the varieties, we examined the host preferences at the population level and the individual level, and found no statistically significant differences. In the population-level experiment, the highest damage rate was observed for Saekso 4 and the lowest for Heukgeom 2. In the individual-level experiment, the highest damage rate was found for Kangilok and the lowest for Oryun 2 when using leaves, and the highest for Saekso 1 and the lowest for Dreamok when using stems. As a result, the population-level and individual-level results were not consistent, suggesting that FAW's corn variety preference is not clear and may vary depending on various conditions such as corn tissue. Composition analysis of the 12 varieties showed no correlation between composition and FAW preference among the varieties, and considering the feeding behavior of FAW, which are highly polyphagous, it is recommended to control FAW as early as possible to improve control effectiveness.

본 연구는 검거세미밤나방(Agrotis ipsilon) 성페로몬 트랩에 혼재하여 유살되는 은무늬밤나방아과 형태적 분류와 동정법 수립을 위해, 날개 무늬의 형태계측학 분석을 실시하였다. 은무늬밤나방아과 개체는 2023년 11월 부터 12월까지 제주도 애월읍 일대에서 채집되었으며, 콩 해충으로 알려진 콩은무늬밤나방(Ctenoplusia agnata) 을 비롯하여, 다양한 농작물을 가해하는 것으로 알려진 붉은금무늬밤나방(Chrysodeixis eriosoma)의 수컷 성충이 포획되었다. 앞날개의 형태 및 무늬를 가지고 현장에서 쉽게 동정할 수 있는 형태적 특징을 도출하기 위하여, 각 성충 개체의 앞날개를 잘라 현미경 카메라로 촬영하고, 앞날개의 내횡선, 아외연선, 반점 크기 등 15개의 형질 을 측정하였다. 또한 각 형질 간의 상관관계를 분석하였으며 빈도분포를 통하여 두 종간 분리되는 형질을 파악하 였다. 최종적으로 다변량 분석법을 적용하여 두 집단이 어떻게 군집을 이루는지 분석하고, 날개형태만으로 붉은 금무늬밤나방과 콩은무늬밤나방을 구분할 수 있는 방안을 제시하였다.

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.

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.

전북특별자치도 수박(Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum. et Nakai) 재배면적은 2,235ha이며, 익산과 정읍은 주요 수박 재배 지역이다. 본 연구는 수박에서 발생하는 해충 목록 작성을 위한 기초자료 구축 을 목적으로 최근 20년간 보고된 문헌자료를 조사하였다. 문헌조사에 따르면, 수박에서 발생하는 주요 해충은 총 7목, 11과, 22종으로 정리되었다. 이 중 점박이응애(Tetranychus urticae Koch), 목화진딧 물(Aphis gossypii Glover), 아메리카잎굴파리(Liriomyza trifolii Burgess) 등이 우점해충으로 다수의 문헌 을 통해 확인되었다. 그 외 파밤나방(Spodoptera exigua Hübner), 꽃노랑총채벌레(Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), 목화바둑명나방(Diaphania indica Saunder)등의 해충들이 최근 연구로부터 추가되었다. 본 연구 결과를 기반으로 앞으로 수박 해충에 대한 현장 조사 계획을 수립하고, 적합한 방제 전략을 세우 고자 한다.