The Gwangneung arboretum, affiliated to the Korea Forest Research Institute, was established in 1987 and it became the Korea National Arboretum (KNA) in May 24, 1999. The entomological collection of KNA currently holds a total of 510,365 specimens of 6,849 species including more than 330 type specimens of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera are deposited. As the results of recent systematic studies by KNA entomologists, 67 new species were described, and 108 species were newly recorded from Korea and other countries. Not only we have conducted taxonomic studies but also have broaden our research boundary to natural enemy surveys for pine wilt disease vectors, plant and insect interaction, and exotic insect species monitoring. In this presentation, we would like to briefly introduce current entomological researches of KNA in the hope of future collaborations with other entomologists.

Insect cuticle or exoskeleton is a complex extracellular matrix formed primarily from structural polysaccharide chitin and protein, and it plays a critical role in protecting them from various environmental stresses and pathogenic infection. Despite of limited composition, insect cuticle has remarkably diverse mechanical properties, ranging from soft and flexible to hard and rigid. My research has been focusing on functional importance of the genes involved in chitin metabolism and cuticle tanning (sclerotization and pigmentation) to comprehensively understand the genetic, enzymatic as well as molecular mechanism underlying differentiation, development and formation of insect cuticular extracellular matrices.

주머니나방과(Psychidae)는 곡식좀나방상과 (Tineoidea)에 속하며 전 세계적으로 241속 1,350종이 분포하는 것으로 보고되어 있다. 이들은 유충시기에 주머니를 만들고 그 속에서 사는 독특한 생활방식과 단순한 암컷의 외부형태 특징 등으로 인해 생태 및 계통학적 연구가 다양하게 시도되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 현재까지 수행된 한국산 주머니나방 과의 분류학적 연구결과를 소개하고 근연분류군에 대해 고찰하고자 한다.

To identify and compare the venom components and expression patterns of some bees/wasps, venom gland-specific transcriptome analyses were conducted for 14 Aculeate bees/wasps. Most of the allergens and pain-producing factors showed extremely high expression levels in social wasps, implying that social wasps have evolved to use venom to defend the colony against intruders. Acid phosphatase and tachykinin, which are known as allergens and neurotoxic peptides, were found with high frequencies in the venom glands of solitary wasps. This suggests that solitary wasps might use their venom for catching and preserving prey. In the venom glands of bumblebees, little or no transcripts of major allergens or pain producing factors were identified, implying that bumblebees venoms are relatively less toxic than those of social or solitary wasps. Taken together, the differential expression patterns of venom genes in some Aculeate bees/wasps implies that bees/wasps have unique groups of highly expressed venom components, which appear to have evolved in response to both ecological and behavioral influences.

The disadvantage of the current Red imported fire ants (RIFA) diagnostic is that it takes at least two days, because it is subjected to PCR amplification and DNA sequence identification process using an arthropod universal mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I prime pair after genomic DNA extraction. In order to overcome this drawback, two RIFA specific genes were confirmed and used to develop techniques for identifying the species using various PCR methods. The conventional PCR method can be confirmed by the presence of amplified DNA, but additional time is required to confirm whether the PCR products are present or not. In contrast, SYBR green Real Time (RT) PCR or TaqMan probe RT PCR method has the advantage of confirming the results immediately after the reaction is completed. The new molecular diagnostic method has the advantage of shortening the time of two days, which is the biggest disadvantage of RIFA molecular diagnostic method, to 3 hours or less.

Insect cuticle consists of numerous structural proteins, which could interact with polysaccharide, chitin, and alter properly mechanical property of the cuticle. Cuticular Protein Analogous to Peritrophins (CPAPs) are characterized by presence of one (CPAP1s) or three (CPAP3s) chitin-binding domain belong to CBM14/ChtBD2 family. In this study, we investigated physiological functions of TcCPAP1-H and TcCPAP3-C in Tribolium castaneum. RNAi for either TcCPAP1-H or TcCPAP3-C at late instar larvae had no effect on larval-pupal molt nor pupal development. However, the resulting pharate adults failed to shed their old pupal cuticle and died entrapped in it without undergoing eclosion. TEM analysis, in addition, revealed disorganized chitinous horizontal laminae and/or vertical pore canals of rigid cuticle from TcCPAP1-H- and TcCPAP3-C-deficient adults. Desiccation-induced death produced by injection of dsTcCPAP1-H into young instar larvae is also discussed.

Insect cuticle tanning (pigmentation and sclerotization) is a complex and vital physiological process that begins with tyrosine and is responsible for production of both melanin- and quinoid-type pigments. In addition, these quinones undergo isomerization to quinone methides and cross-linking reactions with cuticular proteins for cuticle sclerotization. In this study, we studied the functions of TmDDC and TmY-y as well as TmNAT1, TmADC and Tmebony from Tenebrio molitor, which are involved in the tyrosine-derived melanin- and quinoid-type pigment productions, respectively. The temporal and spatial expression patterns of the genes were analyzed by real-time PCR. RNA interference was performed to understand the genetic regulation and molecular mechanism underlying the darkening and hardening of beetle cuticle.

호박꽃과실파리(Bactrocera scutellata)는 박과 식물의 해충으로 기주식물을 찾아가는데 냄새 감각이 중요한 역할을 한다. 이들의 기주 식물인 단호박, 애호박, 노란호박 및 하늘타리의 냄새물질을 포집하여 이들 추출물에 대한 호박꽃과 실파리의 촉각과 작은턱수염의 냄새반응을 GC-EAD(Gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection) 및 GC-EPD (Gas chromatography-electropalpographic detection)를 이용하여 조사한 결과, 촉각과 작은턱수염에 존재하는 냄새감각세 포들에 강한 냄새활성을 나타내는 여러 물질들이 탐지되어, 촉각과 작은턱수염 모두 기주식물의 감지에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 보여주었다. 하지만, 촉각과 작은턱수염에 냄새활성을 나타내는 물질들의 종류는 서로 확연한 차이를 보여서 촉각과 작은턱수염이 기주식물의 냄새물질 탐지에 서로 다른 역할을 할 것이라는 사실을 나타내었다. 우리는 이들 냄새활성물질의 화학구조 동정을 진행하고 있으며, 이들의 구조가 밝혀지면 이들 물질의 호박꽃과실파리 에 대한 행동활성을 조사할 예정이다.

전국 136개 시군에 있는 690개소 벼 관찰포에서 12종의 주요 해충을 6월 1일부터 9월 16일까지 15일 간격으로 총 8회 조사한 결과를 국가농작물병해충관리시스템(NCPMS)을 통하여 수집하였다. 2018년도 벼 주요해충 12종의 총 발생 추정면적은 94,049ha로 재배면적 대비 12.7%에 발생되었다. 발생면적이 가장 많았던 해충은 먹노린재로 해충 총 발생면적의 34.9%인 32,779ha(재배면적 대비 4.4%)에서 발생이 확인되었다. 2018년 먹노린재 발생은 평년의 346%, 전년의 155% 수준으로 최근 몇 년간 계속해서 발생이 증가되고 있는 추세이다. 특히 전남(15,191ha)과 충남 (10,041ha) 지역에서 발생이 많은 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 먹노린재 다음으로는 벼물바구미 17,711ha(재배면적 대비 2.4%), 흰등멸구 14,885ha(재배면적 대비 2.0%), 혹명나방 9,130ha(재배면적 대비 1.2%), 애멸구 4,960ha(재배면적 대비 0.7%) 순으로 발생이 많았다. 10년간 평균간 비교하여 발생이 증가된 해충은 먹노린재 1종이었으며 나머지 11종은 발생이 감소된 것으로 확인되었다. 결론적으로 2018년 벼 주요해충의 발생정도는 전년대비 59%, 10년간 평균 대비 38% 수준으로 발생이 낮은 경향임을 알 수 있었다.

최근 안전한 먹거리에 대한 관심 제고와 고품질 대추 생산에 대한 관심 급증으로 친환경적인 해충방제법의 필요성이 높아지고 있다. 친환경적 해충방제를 위하여 비가림하우스 별 방충망을 설치하여 해충방제 효과와 과실 생육을 조사하였다. 시험에 사용된 방충방 규격은 각각 25, 18, 6mesh로 대추나무잎혹파리, 장님노린재, 복숭아심식나 방의 차단효과를 보았다. 대추나무잎혹파리의 경우 피해엽율이 1.2%, 10.8%, 14.3%, 무처리구는 15%였으며 장님노린 재의 경우 피해눈율이 6.9%, 5.8%, 20.41%, 28.2%였고, 심식나방은 피해과율이 0.0%, 1.0%, 0.0%, 32.0%로 나타났다. 방충망처리에 따른 대추생육은 처리구와 무처리구에서 차이가 거의 없었다. 대추재배농가의 방충망 도입이 해충 방제에 효과가 큰 것으로 판단되며 문제가 되고 있는 세가지 해충을 모두 방제하기 위해서는 25mesh로 처리하는 것이 가장 효과적인 것으로 판단된다.

For the setting of control timing, the number of overwintering eggs on host plants and population density of Metcalfa pruinosa nymphs and adults was surveyed in a sesame fields. According to a survey of the overwintering eggs density of M. pruinosa on host plants, they were many in the order of Mugunghwa trees, Oak trees, and Acacia trees. Examined sesame branches within the 50cm was not found population densities of M. pruinosa nymphs and adults, and it was also very low in the sticky trap. The peak density of the adult was highest at 0.13 per trap on 11 after being first investigated on July 3 in a string wrap survey, and then decreased. In a sesame fields, it is judged that the control of the M. pruinosa is due to be 35 days after the end of the insect hatching, and that distribution of host plants is more important in the outside region than inside region.

Pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus causes devastating damage to pines worldwide. To develop new agent for controlling PWN, many kinds of compounds have been evaluated for their nematicidal activity against PWN with different bioassay system according to researchers. Therefore, it was hard to directly compare their activity. To establish standard procedure for bioassay, nematicidal activity of abamectin was tested and compared in different conditions. The tested conditions are following: 1) nematode density: 100 and 1000 nematodes in 0.1 and 1 mL, 2) amount of reagent: 0.1, 1, 10, 100 uL of abamectin solution which same amount of abamectin was dissolved in. We will report the results of tested nematicidal activity according to conditions.

고추 비가림하우스에서 에어포그 시스템을 이용한 무인방제 효과를 평가하기 위해 본 시험을 수행하였다. 에어포그 시스템과 동력분무기를 이용한 관행방제의 약제살포 시간은 동일한 약량으로 살포하였을 때 처리 간에 차이가 없었으나, 에어포그 시스템으로 1/2약량을 살포하였을 때는 관행방제 보다 살포시간이 약 50% 줄었다. 약제부착 능력을 감수지로 조사하였을 때, 고추 생육초기와 중기에는 모든 처리에서 약제 부착이 우수 하였지만, 생육후기에는 관행방제의 약제 부착이 에어포그 시스템보다 균일하지 않았다. 처리별 총채벌레 살충률은 관행살포 90.0%, 에어포그 시스템 90.8%, 에어포그 시스템 1/2약량이 83.5% 로 유사한 방제효과를 나타내었다. 이러한 결과로 에어포그 시스템은 고추 비가림하우스 내에서 노동시간과 약제 살포량을 줄이면서 총채벌레를 효과적으로 방제할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

As concerns about the pursuit of well-being culture and interest in safe food has increased and demand for organic agricultural products are increasing. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence pattern of diseases and pests and to select effective organic materials for control of diseases and pests in organic watermelon. The watermelon was damaged by diseases and pests such as Didymella bryoniae, Podosphaera xanthii, Aphis gossypii, Tetranychus urticae, thrips, Spodoptera exigua, and Spodoptera litura. Among them, powdery mildew and cotton aphid are major disease and pest in organic watermelon. The occurrence of powdery mildew and cotton aphid initiated in the middle of May in Chungju and Eumseong. The control efficacy for eleven organic materials against powdery mildew was evaluated. As the results, the symptoms of plant disease were effectively reduced by more than 85% in the treatments of materials such as sodium bicarbonate 80% and sulfur 80%. The treatment of TFM-6 (insect repellent 2%+paraffin oil 68%) and TFM-7(cinnamomum ext. 10%+derris ext. 20% + citranella oil 30%) showed by more than 80% in control efficiency against cotton aphid. Tstudy was supported by the research project of RDA.(Project No.: PJ0125302018)

Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, causes damage on several fruits include strawberry in Korea. D. suzukii lays egg inside fruit surface, and this behavior makes D. suzukii hard to detect, so many countries designated D. suzukii as a quarantine pest. Recently, Australian government demand methyl bromide fumigation on Korean export strawberry to prevent D. suzukii invasion. In this study, we tested methyl bromide to control D. suzukii, and also tested separate and concurrent treatments of methyl bromide to evaluate phytotoxicity on strawberry. When 40 g/m3 of methyl bromide was treated for 3 hours, all stages of D. suzukii were completely controlled. When treated separate and concurrent with cold temperature treatments of methyl bromide, there’s no specific phytotoxicity on strawberry. This result indicates that separate and concurrent treatments of methyl bromide do not cause phytotoxic effect on strawberry and methyl bromide is effective to control D. suzukii.

The effect of fumigation on the phosphine-susceptible and -resistant strains in the T. castaneum was evaluated using phosphine, ethyl formate, and combination with phosphine and ethyl formate (phosphine+ethyl formate). The Lethal Concentration Time (LCT)50 analysis of susceptible strains, late larva showed that phosphine (0.13 mg·h / L), ethyl formate (80.91 mg·h / L), and phosphine + ethyl formate (19.36 mg·h / L). The LCT50 of adult was 0.05 mg·h / L, 68.58 mg·h / L and 17.84 mg·h / L when treated with phosphine, ethyl formate, and phosphine + ethyl formate. The LCT50 of resistant strains, late larva was found to 33.32 mg·h / L of phosphine, 113.46 mg·h / L of ethyl formate and 129.85 mg·h / L of phosphine + ethyl formate, and the LCT50 of adult was 55.71 mg·h / L of phosphine, 85.39 mg·h / L, phosphine + ethyl formate 85.83 mg·h / L. The treatment of three fumigants (phosphine, ehtyl formate, and phosphine+ethyl formate) showed the possibility of controlling against T. castaneum of phosphine-susceptible and –resistant strains.

The Ryanodine Receptor in wild type Drosophila melanogaster has an amino acid substitution which is known to cause Chlorantraniliprole resistance in Pluteall xylostella. Even though we have reported that two Chlorantraniliprole resistant Drosophila strains have elevated total esterase activities, our report does not fully explain the significantly increased resistant ratios in two Chlorantraniliprole resistant Drosophila strains. Thus, we further analyzed alteration of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria activities in two Chlorantraniliprole resistant Drosophila strains. Our result suggested that Chlorantraniliprole resistance development in Drosophila requires alteration of various signal transduction pathways.