Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne zoonosis and SFTS virus is transmitted to humans by tick bites. The aim of this study was to monitor tick population and its SFTS virus infection. During March 2014 to October 2015, ticks were monthly sampled using dry-ice bait trap and flag method from 4 collecting points in Boeun-gun. A total of 16,500 ticks, including 14,646 Haemaphysalis longicornis (88.7%), 1,825 H. flava (11.1%), and 29 Ixodes nipponensis (0.2%), were collected. Ticks were pooled (5,156 ticks in 456 pools) and tested by RT-PCR and nested PCR and the minimum infection rate of ticks was 0.27% (14 pools) consisting of 0.13% H. longicornis (6 pools), 1.19% H. flava (8 pools). This annual surveillance study will be needed for long-term monitoring of ixodid ticks in Korea.

The geographical distribution of ixodid ticks in were surveyed at 10 areas from April to November 2015. We investigated tick distribution using dry ice bait trap and flagging method as a part of disease vector monitoring in Korea. As a result, ticks collected 29,992 ixodid ticks with 3 genera, 7 species. Among them, Genus Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Amblyomma accounted for 29,751 (99.2%), 223 (0.7%) and 18 (0.1%). Haemaphysalis longicornis was accounted for 88.9%, which has become the dominant species. Some species, such as H. japonica and Ixodes persulcatus were only collected Gangwon area. Metropolitan area had the highest population of ticks 6,540 (21.8%), Chungbuk area was next 5,049 (16.8%). In environmental distribution, Genus Haemaphysalis was highly collected in grassland site (32.1%) and Genus Ixodes was highly collected in coniferous forest site (43.5%). Upon analysis of the monthly distribution, H. longicornis, the dominant species, was highly collected at nymph stage in May, and its larva was highly collected in September. These studies may provide important information for control and management of tick in Korea.

We conducted a investigation for distribution and flavivirus infection of mosquitoes using black –light trap around Incheon international airport there was possible overseas inflow caused by global warming in Korea. Mosquitoes were collected once a week April to October during 6 years (2009~2015). The numbers of mosquitoes collected in Oseong and Eurwang mountain were 8,969 and 7,978 including 12 species 7 genera respectively during collecting period. Culex pipiens complex was dominant species in two collecting area as 4,621(51.5%) in Oseong and 3,761(47.1%) in Eurwang mountain. A total of 16 pools from 88 Aedes albopictus were performed a Dengue virus (DENV) detection and total 628 pools from 11,146 other mosquitoes performed a West nile virus (WNV) detection. Flavivirus was not detected during study period. This study may provide basic information for surveillance of imported diseases and vectors in Korea.

As the malaria surveillance agency, the Korean Center for Control and Prevention (KCDC) has been monitoring malaria vector mosquito density and Plasmodium vivax infection since 2009. Anopheline mosquitoes were collected at 35 sites in Incheon, northern Gyeonggi and northern Gangwon Province using black light trap daily from April to October 2015. P. vivax infection of malaria vector mosquitoes tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In 2015, a total of 57,926 malaria vector mosquitoes were collected among 138,119 mosquitoes. Three P. vivax positive pools were detected among 1,556 pools (13,745 individuals) and its minimum infection rate was 0.22. According to the monitoring result of malaria vector mosquitoes, early summer (June-July) could be an appropriate time for a malaria elimination campaign until September.

This study was performed to recognize species composition of Anopheline mosquitoes and infection rates of Plasmodium vivax in the northern part of South Korea. Adult mosquitoes were collected at 9 Republic of Korea (ROK) army installations in northern part of Geyonggi Province near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) using black light traps. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify collected Anopheline specimens and detect P. vivax from them. During June to August 2016, total 481 anopheline mosquitoes were collected and identified. Anopheles kleini was the most frequently collected (56.1%), and followed by An. pullus (16.6%), An. sinensis (16.2%), An. belenrae (7.5%) and An. lesteri (1.5%). 6 pools (4.0%) were positive for P. vivax among 150 pools. The minimum infection rates (MIR) was 1.24. Our ongoing study will provide a meaningful data for the effective malaria elimination strategy.

When L. ingenua was captured in a low density of less than 400 flies per sticky trap (25x15cm), yellow color trap is the most excellent, and pink color trap is the lowest. The other colors also have attraction abilities. On the other hands, when total mushroom flies are captured more than 1,000 flies, the attraction difference by the trap color has not been confirmed. Therefore, the use of yellow sticky trap was recommended for insect monitoring of L. ingenua and M. tamilnaduensis. 38.1% of L. ingenua and 31.7% of M. tamilnaduensis were attracted to the black light lamp. We confirmed that black fluorescent lamp(BL) will be effective material to attract two dominant mushroom fly at house(≒70㎡). The treatment of one device that is mushroom fly capturing device built-in black light fluorescent lamp decreases 67.8% of mushroom fly. And the treatment of two device decrease 90.4% of mushroom fly. When black fluorescent light lamp for capturing of mushroom fly only turned on during mushroom production room, Gonji-7ho and Heuktari grew up normally in all treatment. But yield of Chunchu-2ho was decreased 34.6% due to the lack of the amount of light in the treatment of black fluorescent light lamp to 100cm from mushroom medium.

We developed a simple molecular detection tool that rapidly and accurately identifies Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) without sophisticated instruments or expertise. We first identified a gene that is present in the SWD genome but not in that of any other insect species. Then, we developed the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, which was designed based on genomic DNA of SWD specific gene. This LAMP assay detected only genomic DNA from SWD—not from Drosophila melanogaster. In addition, this assay could detect genomic DNA in SWD geographical strains collected from 8 different locations in Asia, Europe, Hawaii, and the USA. Our LAMP assay could be a useful detection tool for identifying SWD rapidly in the field. This work was carried out with the support of the Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science & Technology Development (Project No: PJ0116302016).

The effects of some essential oils and Sopophora extract on Frankliniella occidentalis adults, Myzus persicae adults, Plutella xylostella larvae, and Spodoptera exigua larvae were investigated. Insecticidal and phytotoxicity activities of emulsion in water formulations containing the active essential oils as active ingredients under laboratory and pot conditions were also tested. Based on these results, NRS-13 and NRS-24 formulations were selected to further assess as follows; the GC and GC-MS analysis on the active essential oils, the quantity analysis of the major components contained in the formulations, their insecticidal activities under pot and field conditions, and their oral, dermal, skin and eye irritation, and fish toxicities. Thus, the NRS-13 (BaechooSaferTM) and NRS-24 (JindiOutTM) formulations could be considered as insecticides for pest control.

The occurrence pattern of lepidopteran adults in a paddy-upland rotation field and an organic upland field for 8 maize and 7 sorghum varieties was surveyed from May 8 to September 27, 2016. In addition, their damage ratio and the invasive pores by Ostrinia furnacalis larvae as well as harvest yields were monitored. The density of the lepidopteran adults in two fields showed similar pattern, although a little different pattern in Heliothis assulta. The damage ratio of maize and sorghum varieties by O. furnacalis at harvest periods was depended on both varieties and cultivated environments. A middle negative linear correlation was observed in damage ratios vs yields, the number of invasive pores vs yields, and the number of larvae in corn ears vs yields, but there was not a specific correlation between the damage ratio vs the number of invasive pores. These results may be useful for the establishment of a management strategy to control oriental corn borer in paddy-upland rotation or organic upland fields for maize and sorghum.

Euzophera batangensis (Lepidotera: Pyralidae) is seriously damaging trunks or branches of persimmon tree (Diospyros sp.). We tested the attractiveness of (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol (Z9-14OH) and (Z9,E12)-tetradeca- 9,12-dien-1-ol (Z9,E12-14OH) with single or blended baits at southern parts of Korea in 2014 and 2015. The monoene was not attractive at all at three places during the two years. In 2014, diene was equally or more attractive than the mixture in Jinju and Suncheon, respectively. In 2015 too, the attractiveness of diene and mixture was not different in Jinju and Munsan. Monitoring of the seasonal occurrence of E. batangesis with the sex pheromone components revealed that it occurred three times a year; the first occurrence from early April to mid May, the second from early Jun to mid July, and the third from late August to late September.

Ooencyrtus nezarae lshii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a major egg parasitoid of Riptortus pedestris (F.) (Hemiptera: Alydidae). One of the components of the aggregation pheromone of R. pedestris, (E)-2-hexenyl (Z)-3-hexenoate (E2HZ3H), is known to attract O. nezarae female. Response of O. nezarae females to E2HZ3H and its isomers was studied using electro-antennogram (EAG) and field tests. O. nezarae females showed higher antennal response to E2HZ3H and Z2HE3H isomers than E2HE3H and Z2HZ3H. In field tests, O. nezarae females were attracted to E2HZ3H traps, but not to Z2E3 traps. Interestingly, the blend of E2HZ3H and Z2HE3H showed significant antagonistic activities to the attraction of O. nezarae females in the field. We conclude from this study that Z2HE3H is a potent antagonist to the behavioral response of O. nezarae.

Ethyl formate (EF), a methyl bromide alternative fumigant which is commercially used for quarantine and pre-shipment(QPS) purpose, has a potential to control various insect pests. Based on CTP (concentration × time products), we've firstly evaluated fumigation trials of EF on cucumber plants to eradicate horticultural insect pests in greenhouse. In the preliminary test, EF achieved 100% control of cotton aphid, western flower thrip and tobacco whitefly when CTP of EF was 4.4, 5.6 and 3.3 g h m-3, respectively. In 1300m3 scale cucumber greenhouse trial, EF was applied with 2g m-3 dosage for 15 hrs, and cotton aphid, western flower thrip and tobacco whitefly were completely controlled without phytotoxic symptom. EF fumigation could be suitable for greenhouse cultivation in terms of good efficacy on horticultural insect pests with labor-saving benefit than current insecticide spraying applications.

A surveillance of chigger mites was performed to monitor the incidence of scrub typhus vectors at 5 environmental collection points of 3 locations (Muju, Namwon and Gimge) from April 2016 in Jeollabuk-Do, Korea. During the surveillance period, 3,292 chigger mites were collected and the predominant species were Leptotrombidium pallidum (42.9%). The high environmental collecting rates were recorded at reservoir bank (31.6%) and grassfield (29.7%). We detected Orientia tsutsugamushi from the samples collected in Jeollabuk-Do using nested polymerase chain reaction. The specific DNA of O. tsutsugamushi were detected in 11 pools among total 119 pools and its minimum positive rate was 0.35%. In order to clarify the relationship between chigger mites and scrub typhus cases, further survey will be needed.

West Nile Fever is one of most serious disease spreading throughout world since 1990. West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The possibility of overseas inflow of this virus seems to be high in Korea. To know the WNV infection of mosquitoes, we collected mosquitoes in Jeju, Busan, Gunsan, and Incheon using CDC light trap and BG Sentinel trap from April to August in 2016. Collected mosquitoes were conducted virus detection using real-time PCR method. A total of 22,632 mosquitoes representing 9 genera and 18 species were collected. The most dominant species was Culex pippins complex (36%) followed by Aedes vexans (13%), Ae. albopictus (10%) and Ochlerotatus koreicus (10%). WNV was not detected in any mosquitoes until now.

Dengue is the most important arboviral human infection worldwide. Approximately 50-100 million cases occur annually and more than 2.5 billion people are at risk of infection. This virus is possibility of overseas inflow to be high in Korea. We collected mosquitoes in Jeju, Busan, Gunsan, and Incheon using BG Sentinel trap from April to August in 2016. Collected mosquitoes were conducted virus detection using real-time PCR method. A total of 15 species comprising 7 genera were identified and 3,696 female mosquitoes collected. The most dominant species ratio (SR) was 49.4% (Culex pippins complex) followed by 21.8% (Aedes albopictus), 13.6% (Ae. vexans) and Ochlerotatus dorsalis (4.8%). Dengue virus was not detected in any mosquitoes until now.

Ixodid ticks are notorious as the vector of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in Korea. To confirm the transovarial transmission of SFTSV, we collected blood-fed adult ticks from animals in SFTS case reported area of Jeju island in 2015. A total of 476 ticks were collected from four host animal species, horse (81.3%), dog (9.0%), roe deer (7.1%) and wild boar (2.5%). They were identified as 1 genus and 2 species, Haemaphysalis longicornis (87.8%) and H. flava (12.2%). Among them, 131 adults hatched their eggs successfully. The body weight of females was highly correlated with the number of egg masses laid (P < 0.05). We confirmed that one adult H. flava was infected with SFTSV and its infection rate was 0.77%. The eggs of the SFTSV-infected adults also were infected with SFTSV and its transovarial transmission was confirmed. This result suggests that the parent generation of H. flava could transmit SFTSV transovarially into their F1 progeny and H. flava might be one of major vectors of SFTSV in Korea.

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.

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.

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.

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.