This study was conducted to elucidate the genetic relationships among native Korean cattle breeds by analyzing genetic variations and distances. Relationships among Hanwoo, Korean brindle, Korean black, Jeju black, and Holstein cattle were evaluated using 15 microsatellite markers. Korean brindle and Korean black cattle had the closest relationship based on the lowest genetic distance being observed between these breeds. A Neighbor-Net tree created using the Reynolds distances indicated that Korean brindle and black cattle formed a group separate from the Hanwoo population. However, an Fst pairwise test revealed that Hanwoo, Korean brindle, and Korean black cattle differed significantly (P <0.01). Moreover, the results of this study confirmed that Jeju black cattle became a separate established breed in Korea through a path different from that of cattle from inland regions, even though it is considered to be a Korean native breed. Overall, the results of our study indicate that Korean brindle and black cattle are indeed native Korean breeds that maintain an endangered status.

Three formula types (gel, cookie, and liquid), six commercial roach bait products containing one of active ingredients among Fipronil, Avermectin, Dinotefuran, and Chlorpyrifos were examined against susceptible strain of German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). For the results of killing speed (LT50 values), universal killing speed effects depended on bait formula types. The killing speed of liquid bait formula type was the fastest among three formula types. Followed by gel bait type and cookie bait type. However the control speed (LT90 values) effects depended on the active ingredients that contained in roach baits. The baits contained Fipronil were shown the strongest control performance against German cockroaches. Chlorpyrifos was similar with Fipronil. Followed by Avermectin and Dinotefuran.

Entomopathogenic fungi have been studied to develop for biological control agents as an alternative to chemical control agents in insect pest management. Two Lepidopteran insects, Spodoptera exigua and Plutella xylostella, are serious insect pests infest various crops, but not effectively controlled by commercial chemical pesticides due to its high insecticide resistance. A fungal isolate was isolated from S. exigua larvae collected from green onion field in Andong, Korea. To identify the fungal isolate, 18srRNA sequence for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and β-tubulin regions were sequenced. The ITS and β-tubulin sequence were highly matched to Beauveria bassiana and morphological characteristics also was fit to known B. bassiana. Finally, isolated fungus has identified as B. bassiana and named B. bassiana ANU1. The result of bioassay, median lethal concentrations were 2.7×103 and 0.9×103 conidia/ml and medial lethal times were 65.6 and 60.8 h to S. exigua and P. xylostella, respectively. B. bassiana ANU1 showed high pathogenicity to two insect pests from 20℃ to 30℃ at 50% relative humidity (RH) and more than 40% RH at 25℃ with 107 conidia/ml of concentration.

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), has been considered as a major thrips species after its invasion in 1993 in Korea although recently F. intonsa (Trybom) was found as a dominant species locally. To explain their asymmetrical abundance in the field, we hypothesized differential insecticide susceptibility of both thrips species as an underlying mechanism. Laboratory assays were conducted to know their susceptibility to different pesticides including chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, thiamethoxam, spinosad, s-metolachlor, and metalaxyl by direct spray, residue, and oral ingestion. Results showed that both thrips species were highly susceptible to chlorfenapyr and mortality reached 100% within 12 hours in F. occidentalis in all the assays while 9 hours in F. intonsa in direct spray and residual assays. The LT50[h] values of tested insecticides were significantly lower than that of herbicide or fungicide regardless of exposure methods except metalaxyl from direct spray. The insecticides tested here differed considerably in species specific toxicity, and F. intonsa is generally more susceptible to the insecticides irrespective of exposure methods.

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) is an anthophilus pest of many greenhouse and field crops worldwide. We compared the influence of constant (27.3ºC) and fluctuating temperatures (23.8 to 31.5ºC, with an average of 27.3ºC) on the life table characteristics of F. occidentalis held at a 16:8 h L:D photoperiod and 45 ± 5% RH. The development times from egg to adult of F. occidentalis were significantly affected by temperature fluctuation and sex. Survival of immature life stages was higher under fluctuating than constant temperature. Total first instar larvae/female was not significantly different (58.7 at constant and 60.5 at fluctuating temperatures) but daily production of first instars was higher in constant temperature than fluctuating temperatures (3.3 at constant temperature and 3.1 at fluctuating temperatures). The off-spring sex ratio was not significantly different between constant and fluctuating temperatures. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), net reproductive rate (R0), finite rate of increase (λ), mean generation time (tG), and doubling time (tD) were affected significantly by fluctuation of temperature. The intrinsic rate of natural increase of F. occidentalis was higher in constant temperature (0.1808) than did in fluctuation of temperatures (0.1733). Thus, this study show that variable temperatures influence population growth rates of F. occidentalis.

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is one of the most harmful pests causing serious damages to blueberries in Northern America and Europe. It is essential to seek alternatives to methyl bromide to ensure dis-infestation of this pest from agricultural products. We investigated the effect of X-ray irradiation (0, 50, 100, 200 and 300 Gy) on development and reproduction of SWD to meet this standard. When eggs were irradiated with the doses, some portion of the eggs hatched even at 300 Gy. The larvae hatched from the irradiated eggs did not pupate at 300 Gy, and they could not develop to adults even at 50 Gy. When larvae were irradiated, they developed up to pupa in some proportion. However above 100 Gy, there was no adult emergence. When pupae were irradiated, some of them emerged to adults. However, the adults could not produce eggs at all above 100 Gy. When adults were irradiated, oviposition occurred normally, but fecundity and hatchability were decreased as irradiation dose went up.