최근 몇 년 전부터 우리나라의 양봉농가에는 전에 경험하지 못했던 이상기후 악재와 초비극 상황인 꿀벌 군집 붕괴현상(Colony collapse disorder, CCD)으로 인하여 최대 60% 이상의 꿀벌이 폐사하거나 사라지는 등 양봉산업 의 막대한 손실을 초래하였다. 본 연구는 복잡하고 다양한 원인으로 약해진 꿀벌의 면역력과 봉군 세력을 향상시 키기 위하여 농업부산물 홍삼박을 활용한 화분떡을 자가제조하여 꿀벌 사양 먹이를 통한 봉군 세력에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 구명하고자 수행하였다. 가공부산물 홍삼박을 건조하여 130 mesh 이상 초미립자로 분쇄하 였으며, 조사포닌 725 mg 100-1을 함유하였고 화분떡 총중량의 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0%로 첨가하여 완전하게 혼합 배합하여 화분떡을 제조하였다. 분봉벌은 4월 분봉한 봉군으로 이용하였으며, 2달 동안 1주일 간격으로 대조구 화분떡과 제조한 홍삼박 화분떡 5처리구에 급이하여 봉군의 세력을 조사하였다. 사양 먹이로 급이한 화분떡은 30일간 달관조사에서 대조구와 처리구 모두 꿀벌 먹이로 거부반응은 없었다. 봉군 세력 조사로 4월 분봉벌의 봉군은 1매 2갈로 시작하여 약 한 달 후에 6매 봉판으로 증소되었으며, 이때 조사된 봉군별 봉개율은 대조구 55%(100 기준) 대비 홍삼박 0.5~1.0% 처리구는 58~60%로 +(5~9)% 향상되었던 반면, 홍삼박 2.5% 이상 첨가한 처리구에서는 봉개율이 -(9~20)% 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 그리고 화분떡 먹이 소모량을 조사한 결과, 대조구 평균 96.9%(100) 소모율 대비 홍삼박 0.5% 처리구는 97.7%로 다소 높았으나 홍삼박 2.5% 이상 처리구에서는 점점 감소하는 경향을 보였다.

우리나라에 서식하는 주요 말벌류는 벌목(Hymenoptera)의 말벌아과(Vespinae)에 속하는 종들로 10종의 말벌속 (Vespa) 중 8종[장수말벌(V. mandarinia), 꼬마장수말벌(V. ducalis), 등검은말벌(V. velutina nigrithorax), 좀말 벌(V. analis), 말벌(V. crabro flavofasciata), 검정말벌(V. dybowskii), 털보말벌(V. simillima simillima), 황말벌 (V. simillima xanthoptera)]이 주를 이루고 있다. 특히 2003년 부산에서 처음 발견되었던 등검은말벌이 급속도로 확산되어 우리나라 양봉산업에 치명적인 피해를 주고 있는 현실이다. 이에 본 연구는 충남 주요 양봉지역인 공주, 청양, 논산에서 말벌 유인액을 주입한 포획기를 이용하여 4월부터 6월까지 봄철 출현하는 여왕말벌의 포획된 말벌 류 개체들을 조사하여 분포도와 특성을 알아보았다. 말벌 포획 개체수 조사결과, 등검은말벌의 분포율이 공주 76.3%, 청양 74.1%, 논산 58.0%로 가장 큰 비율을 보였으며, 꼬마장수말벌이 다음으로 공주와 청양지역은 밤나무 숲으로 12.4~16.0%를 보였던 반면, 소나무 숲을 이룬 논산에서는 31.8%로 최대 2.5배 정도 높은 분포 비율을 나타냈 다. 그리고 장수말벌은 5.2~8.6%의 분포율을 보였으며, 다른 지역보다 해발이 높았던 청양지역에서 장수말벌이 많게 조사되었다. 봄철 3개 지역에서 포획된 여왕말벌류의 총개체수(266마리)에 대한 평균 분포 비율은 등검은말 벌 69.5%, 꼬마장수말벌 19.9%, 장수말벌 6.8%, 말벌 2.6%, 그리고 좀말벌 1.1% 순으로 조사되었다.

두점박이사슴벌레는 2012년 5월 31일부터 환경부 지정 멸종위기야생생물 2급으로 보호받고 있는 딱정벌레 목의 사슴벌레과 톱사슴벌레속의 곤충으로 우리나라에는 제주도 숲에서 자생하고 있다. 보통 검정색 사슴벌레 와는 달리 황갈색의 이국적인 색상을 지니고 있으며, 가슴 양쪽에 2개의 검은색 점이 있는 것이 특징이다. 본 연구는 아열대기후의 특정 서식지에서만 살아가는 두점박이사슴벌레의 산업곤충으로써 가치성과 희귀성을 고려하여 인공증식 사육기술을 개발하였으며, 이 과정 중 점차적으로 온도를 낮춰가며 영상 8℃에서 90일간의 월동처리 하였고, 이러한 월동처리의 유무과정이 두점박이사슴벌레 유충기의 생육에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 조사하였다. 비월동시 수컷 249일, 암컷 239일이었고, 성별간 수컷이 암컷보다 약 10일정도 더 길었으며, 암수 평균 유충기간은 245일이었다. 그리고 월동시에는 수컷 309일, 암컷 280일로 수컷이 약 30일정도 길었으며, 암수 평균 유충기간은 290일이었다. 월동처리 유무에 따른 두점박이사슴벌레 유충기간의 차이는 비월동 개체가 월동 개체보다 수컷은 약 60일, 암컷은 약 40일정도 짧았으며, 암수 평균 유충기간은 약 45일정도 짧았던 경향을 보였 다. 또한 유충의 생육특성 중 두폭은 처리간 서로 유사하였던 반면, 암수 무게는 월동 개체가 비월동 개체보다 모두 높게 나타났다. 우화의 경우 암컷이 비월동과 월동 개체에서 모두 수컷보다 빨랐던 경향을 보였다. 추후에는 월동 유무에 따른 성충 산란량과 사육 키트 개발을 위한 사육상자 크기 및 배지 높이별 성충 산란량, 온도 및 사육상 자 크기별 유충 생육 등의 연구를 추진할 계획이다.

기후변화에 따른 서식지 감소는 생물다양성의 커다란 위협 요소 중 하나이고 생물종이 서식하는 공간적 분포에 대한 이해는 멸종위기종 관리, 생태계 복원 등 다양한 분야에서 매우 중요하다. 본 연구는 남한지역에서 서식하는 멸종위기종 Ⅰ급으로 지정된 붉은점모시나비를 대상으로 기후변화에 따른 서식분포변화를 분석하고자 한다. 이 를 위해서 최근 보전생물학, 동물생태학 등 다양한 분야에서 널리 활용되는 MaxEnt 모델을 현재시기와 미래시기 의 생물기후변수에 적용하여 잠재적 서식지 분포 변화를 평가하였다. 붉은점모시나비는 미래시기에 서식지가 감소하는 경향으로 예측되었고, 기온보다 강수량에 의한 영향이 크고, 특히 강수량 계절성에 영향이 가장 클 것으 로 분석되었다. 분석결과는 국내 생물다양성 증진에 필요한 기초자료로서 활용할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

기후 변화로 인한 서식지 감소는 생물다양성에 대한 중대한 위협 요인 중 하나이다. 생물종의 공간 분포를 이해하는 것은 보호지역에서 멸종 위기 종 관리와 생태계 복원과 같은 다양한 분야에서 매우 중요하다. 본 연구는 남한지역에 서식하는 멸종 위기 종 Ⅱ급인 쌍꼬리부전나비의 기후 변화에 대한 서식지 분포 변화를 분석하는 것을 목표로 한다. 이를 위해 보전 생물학, 동물 생태학 등 다양한 분야에서 널리 사용되는 MaxEnt 모델을 현재와 미래 기후 조건에 적용하여 잠재적 서식지 분포 변화를 평가하였다. 연구 결과, 미래에 쌍꼬리부전나비의 서식지 가 증가할 것으로 예측되며, 기온과 강수량 모두에 영향이 있을 것으로 나타났다. 특히 더운 시기의 평균기온의 영향이 가장 클 것으로 분석되었다. 이러한 결과는 국내 생물다양성 보전을 강화하기 위한 중요한 기초 데이터로 활용될 것으로 기대된다.

Sweet pepper(paprika) belongs to the genus Capsicum, and is one of the most important export product from Korea to Japan and Southeast Asia. So it is important to eradicate plant quarantine pests before export sweet pepper. Aphids, whiteflies and mites are major pests that can damage to sweet peppers. Fumigation is normally used to eradicate pests in plant quarantine, but phytotoxicity may can be appeared that affect the quality of the product. Low-temperature treatment, one of the most popular physical treatment, can reduce crop damage to preserve product quality, but it takes long time to kill pests, which can cause quality degradation. In this study, phytotoxicity of fumigants, phosphine(PH3), ethyl formate(EF) and PH3+EF on sweet peppers was investigated to use as basic data for physicochemical treatment. When treated with more than 35 mg/L of EF, phytotoxicity was occurred, and was not occurred with PH3. When low-temperature of 1.7 degrees treated for 15 days after fumigation, it seems to be no direct damage from low-temperature treatment. But quality of top of sweet pepper was decreased from 7 days after fumigation.

Golden apple snails(GAS) are native to warm regions such as Central and South America and Southeast Asia, and were first introduced as a high-protein food. GAS are omnivorous and have a habit of eating plants submerged in water, so they have been used for eco-friendly weed control in rice fields since 1992. When the GAS was first introduced, it was thought that it would be impossible to overwinter in Korea. However after 2000, overwintering individuals were founded and damage to rice occurred and the development of means to control GAS has been required. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of an eco-friendly pest control agent using Styrax japonicus that grow naturally in Korea. As a result of exposing GAS to S. japonicus fruit powder, a 100% molluscicidal effect was confirmed at 66.7ppm. To investigate the duration of effect, treatment was performed at the same concentration and molluscicidal effect of more than 90% was up to 3 days after treatment. The killing effect of each part of the S. japonicus was compared, and the seed extracts showed no killing effect at all concentrations, while the sarcocarp extracts showed a 100% killing effect up to 33.3ppm, and the fruit extracts showed a 100% killing effect up to 200ppm.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Western Hemisphere is now annually arrives in Korea. In this study, we developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, one of the main merits of which is a rapid identification of target species. Five among 11 FAW-specific loci tested successfully provided a consistent reaction when ten FAWs, which were collected from eight localities in four countries were tested, whereas the 13 non-target species were not amplified. To increase in-field applicability of the method all life stages, reaction time, and different periods after death was tested using the quick extracted DNA. Our FAW diagnostic protocol can be completed within 30 min, from the process of extracting genomic DNA from an egg or a 1st instar larva to species determination.

Mosquitoes were collected from three different environments (urban area, migratory bird refuge, and cowshed) in Gyeoungbuk from March to November 2022. A total of 4,701 female mosqutoes were collected: 1,635 from urban area, 2,801 from migratory bird refuge, and 265 from cowshed. Among collected 9 species, Aedes vexans was the most dominant species (50.9%), followed by Culex pipiens complex (31.8%), and A. albopictus (7.1%). In urban area, C. pipiens complex was the dominant species at 75.5%, while A. vexans was the dominant species at 82.3% and 58.9% in respective migratory bird refuge and cowshed. Among 253 pools tested for flavivirus, Japanese encephalitis virus (type Ⅴ) was detected in one pool of C. orientalis collected from the migratory refuge.

지난 2022년 제주도 애월읍 일대에서 콩 해충으로 알려진 콩은무늬밤나방(Ctenoplusia agnata) 성충이 검거세 미밤나방(Agrotis ipsilon)의 성페로몬 트랩에 대량으로 포획되었다. 검거세미밤나방 트랩은 목적 해충에 대한 포획 효율을 조사하기 위해 세 구성 성분, (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate를 3:1 비율로 고정하고 (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate를 0, 1, 6, 10, 15로 각각 비율을 달리한 미끼를 사용하였다. 각 조성별 콩은무늬밤나방 성충 포획수를 비교한 결과, (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate가 첨가되지 않은 트랩에서 주당 평균 약 17.96마리로, 가장 많은 수의 개체가 포획된 것으로 확인되었다. 반면, (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate가 가장 많이 함유된 트랩에서 주당 평균 약 2.5마리로 가장 적은 개체가 포획된 것으로 파악되었다. 이에 (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate의 비율이 증가할 수록, 포획되는 콩은무늬밤나방의 개체 수가 감소되는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 검거세미밤나방 미끼의 주성분인 Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate는 기존의 콩은무늬밤나방 유인 성분 중 하나이기도 하여 해당 성분의 구성비가 유인에 영향을 미쳤다는 것을 예측할 수 있다. 추후에 해당 트랩들과 시판 중인 콩은무늬밤나방 성페로몬 트랩을 설치하 여 포획 양상을 비교할 필요성이 요구된다.

Because of recent reports about phosphine resistance problem, development of effective fumigation method to control grain pests became very important. In this study, a chemical treatment, ethyl formate fumigant treatment, and a physical treatment, atmospheric control, were attempted as alternative solutions to this problem. In this study, for CA(Controlled atmosphere) treatment, 99.999% nitrogen was used to create a hypoxic condition with less than 5% oxygen, and for EF, the treatment concentration was 10 mg/L to 80 mg/L. As a result of the study, in CA single treatment, adult insects showed a mortality rate of less than 10% even after 2 weeks of treatment, and pupae and larvae showed a mortality rate 71% and 34%, but eggs showed a mortality rate of 100%. In EF single treatment, adults and larvae showed a 100% mortality rate at 80 mg/L, but eggs showed a 50% mortality rate and pupae were not affected. Considering the results, CA single treatment is not suitable for controlling Tribolium castaneum because of long treatment period, and in the case of EF single treatment, additional researches on longer treatment time is needed.

The honey bee, Apis mellifera, has a defense system, including detoxification, antioxidation, and immunity pathways, against external stimulation such as chemicals, stress, and pathogens. However, pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids and butenolids, have been recently reported to alter physiological changes in honey bee. In this study, we investigated the expression levels of eight genes categorized into detoxification (CYPQ3), antioxidation (CAT and SOD2), and immune system (Abaecin, Apidaecin, Defensin1, Defensin2, and Hymenoptaecin), in five tissues (Head, Thorax, Gut, Fat body, and Carcass) of honey bee treated with three pesticides (Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, and Flupyradifurone) using quantitative real-time PCR. Gene expression patterns was varied depending on the type of pesticides and tissues. However, among eight genes, the expression levels of CYPQ3 was notably induced, but those of AMPs were generally reduced by all pesticides tested in this study in five tissues. These suggest that CYPQ3-mediated detoxification pathway is induced, but AMP-mediated immune system might be disrupted when honey bee is exposed to neonicotinoids and butenolid.

Pesticides are indispensable in contemporary agriculture but are mainly attributed to honey bee population decline. In order to understand the approximate physiological response to pesticides, honey bees were exposed to seven pesticides (Acetamiprid, Imidacloprid, Flupyradifurone, Carbaryl, Fenitrothion, Amitraz, and Bifenthrin), and expression changes of the genes categorized into four physiological functions (insecticide targets, immune-, detoxification-, and reactive oxygen species response-related gene) were analyzed in the head and abdomen of honey bee exposed to pesticides using quantitative PCR. Based on the heat map analysis, immune-related genes seem to be more up-regulated by pesticide exposure in head than abdomen. Among detoxification genes, only cytochrome P450 families were up-regulated in head. Interestingly, regardless of the insecticide target, expressions of Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta 1 and Acetylcholinesterase 1 were notably induced by pesticide exposure in head. Heat map analysis expressing the transcription profiles of various genes in the head and abdomen of the honey bee exposed to various pesticides can be used to diagnose pesticide damage in honey bees in the future.

The adult of honey bee, Apis mellifera, performs an age-dependent division of labor with nurse bees and foragers. Foragers fly outside the hive to collect pollen and nectar, while nurses feed and care for the larvae and queen inside the hive. Foragers are considered to be frequently exposed to agrochemicals, although nurses, stayed inside the hive, are potentially exposed to pesticides through application of miticides and pesticidecontaminated food provided by forager. Therefore, physiological effects of pesticides to nurses should be elucidated to understand the adverse effects of the chemicals on entire honey bee colony. In this study, we investigated the expression changes of the genes associated with labor division (task genes) and the nursing behavior of nurse bees fed four pesticides: acetamiprid (ACE), carbaryl (CB), imidacloprid (IMI), and fenitrothion (FEN). When nurses were exposed to ACE, IMI, and FEN, expression levels of task genes were up- and down-regulated, and their nursing behaviors were also suppressed and enhanced, respectively. CB did not alter the gene expression levels, however increased nursing behavior. These suggest the potential of pesticide that breaks the balance of labor distribution in honey bee colony.

The genus Conicera Meigen is a group of necrophagous phorid flies mostly associated with carrion, including C. tibialis, commonly known as the “coffin fly” that breeds in buried corpses. In this study, specimens of the Conicera species collected from South Korea are examined morphologically on the basis of characteristics on male antennae, sensory organ on midfemora, and left and right surstyli on hypopygium. As a result, five species, viz. C. dauci, C. gracilis, C. orientalis, C. pacifica, C. quadrata are newly recorded from South Korea. Photographs of diagnostic characters, a distribution map and a key to males of South Korean species are provided.

The utilization of methyl bromide (MB) for quarantine purposes has been hampered by its designation as an ozone-depleting substance under the Montreal Protocol. The International Plant Protection Convention's (IPPC) call for alternatives to MB and a reduction in its usage. There is an urgent need to explore and implement substitutes. Despite some substitute agents like EDN being developed for wood, EDN has been limited due to various factors such as occupational risks. This study focuses on evaluating the efficacy of Sulfuryl Fluoride (SF) as a viable alternative fumigant against Reticulitermes speratus, one of major wood destroying pests. Experimental trials conducted at ambient temperature (23°C) revealed promising results, with SF demonstrating LCT50 and LCT99 values of 30.87 mg·h/L and 42.53 mg·h/L, respectively. Under low-temperature conditions (5°C), SF remained effective but with slightly higher LCT50 and LCT99 values of 151.62 mg·h/L and 401.90 mg·h/L, respectively. The penetration test, conducted using R. speratus-infested pine wood cubes, further highlighted SF's efficacy, with LCT50 and LCT99 values of 31.59 mg·h/L and 53.34mg·h/L at 23°C, indicating powerful penetration capabilities. When tested at a loading ratio of 90% (v/v) at 5.0mg/L for 24 hours in a 500L chamber as a middle-scale trial, SF achieved a 100% mortality, showing its potential as a suitable replacement for MB. These findings suggest that SF could open new markets as an MB substitute and enhance safety at quarantine sites when applied to imported and exported timber.

Immune priming is an increased immunity after prior exposure to a specific pathogen as a kind of adaptive immunity and occurs in insects. However, its underlying mechanism is elusive in insects. Immune priming was detected in a lepidopteran insect, Spodoptera exigua. Prior infection with a heat-killed pathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus hominickii, increased survival upon the second infection of the live bacteria compared to larvae without pre-exposure. Plasma collected from larvae with the prior infection significantly up-regulated cellular and humoral immune responses compared to the similar treatment without prior exposure. However, when the active plasma exhibiting immune priming was heat-treated, it lost the priming activity, suggesting a presence of protein factor(s) in the immune priming. Lipocalin is a lipid carrier protein and is well known in vertebrates for diverse physiological functions including immunity. An apolipoprotein D3 (ApoD3) is known to be a lipocalin functioning in immune priming in a mosquito, Anopheles gambiae. A homologous ApoD3 (Se-ApoD3) was identified in S. exigua. Se-ApoD3 was expressed in all developmental stages and larvae, it was highly expressed in hemocytes. RNA interference (RNAi) of Se-ApoD3 expression was performed by injecting its specific dsRNA. The larvae treated with the RNAi were impaired in cellular and humoral immune responses. Furthermore, the plasma collected from RNAi-treated larvae lost the immune priming even at the prior exposure. These suggest that Se-ApoD3 mediates the immune priming in S. exigua.

The order Pseudoscorpiones De Geer, 1778, often referred to as pseudoscorpion, is a relatively understudied taxonomic group in Korea. Korea has documented only 26 species within 8 families and 13 genera of Pseudoscorpiones, a notably smaller number compared to Japan, which includes 100 species in 13 families and 35 genera, or China, with 168 species in 12 families and 39 genera. Additionally, Korea currently lacks comprehensive information regarding the ecology, behavior, and taxonomic characteristics of Pseudoscorpiones. These highly sensitive soil-dwelling predators dynamically respond to changes in soil conditions, making them potential significant biological indicator species. Furthermore, Pseudoscorpiones are known for their adaptation to lower soil temperatures, rendering them particularly sensitive indicators of climate change impacts. Through this presentation, our goal is to illuminate the ecology, behavior, and taxonomic attributes of Pseudoscorpiones species recorded in Korea. By doing so, we aim to contribute to the future expansion of research in this field and enhance our understanding of these remarkable arachnids.