Curtonotidae, known as the quasimodo flies, in Diptera currently includes about 100 described species in five genera (Axinota Wulp, 1886; Curtonotum Macquart, 1844; Cyrtona Séguy, 1938; Depressonotum Grimaldi & Kirk-Spriggs, 2012; Tigrisomyia Kirk-Spriggs, 2010) worldwide. Curtonotid species have great potential as case studies for biological diversity, evolution, and zoogeography based on wide distribution and sufficient diversity. In the present study, Curtonotum maritimum Ozerov, 2007 is newly added to Korean insect fauna. This is also the first record of Curtonotidae from the country. We here provide morphological diagnosis and images including genitalic structures for accurate identification.

Vespula rufa (Linnaeus, 1758), known as the red wasp, is a social wasp species. We analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of V. rufa from South Korea, for an ongoing systematic study of the Korean Vespidae. This species is distributed in northern parts of North America, northern and central Europe, and parts of Asia. It can be distinguished from other species of the genus by usually having reddish brown areas on the 1st and 2nd tergites. The mitogenome is 17,663 bp in length, includes 13 protein-coding genes, 24 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The nucleotide composition is 40.5% adenines, 43.00% thymines, 6.1% guanines, and 10.4 % cytosines.

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.

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.

In the genus Asobara Foester, 1863 (Braconidae: Alysiinae), two new species, Asobara rotundata sp. nov. is described and illustrated. In addition, the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) were sequenced for the species. An identification key for the Asobara species officially recorded from Korea is provided.

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.

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.

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.

Bombyx mandarina (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), the presumed ancestor of B. mori, has long been a subject of study to illustrate the geographic relationships in connection with origin of B. mori. We report 97 mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences of B. mandarina collected from Korea and Japan. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses showed that all individuals of B. mandarina collected in Korean localities formed a strong group together with all individuals originated from northern China (mainly north of the Qinling-Huaihe line) and some of southern China. This group was placed as the sister group to B. mori strians suggesting that this group had been served as an immediate progenitor for B. mori.

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.

해충에 이용되는 화학적 기피제는 생태계를 파괴할 수 있으며 내성을 가진 생물체로의 진화를 촉진한다. 같은 종의 생물끼리의 의사소통 수단인 페로몬을 이용하면 다른 종에게 영향을 미치지 않으면서 특정 곤충에 특이적 으로 작용하는 방충제를 제작할 수 있을 것이라 생각된다. 본 연구는 초파리(Drosophila)의 페로몬 2종류를 추출 하여 초파리의 기피도 및 유인도와 번식률을 확인하고자 한다. ℃, 광주기 12h/12h의 동일한 조건에서 사육하 며 10마리당 헥세인 10를 사용하여 암컷의 표피에서 CHC 페로몬과 수컷의 페로몬샘에서 cVA 페로몬을 추출 한다. 연령, 성별, 교배 여부에 따라 관찰통에 각각의 페로몬을 처리하여 지정구간에 분포하는 초파리의 수를 계수하여 기피도 및 유인도를 확인한다. 관병에 암수 1쌍을 투입하고 하루에 1번 선정한 페로몬을 투여하며 산란 수을 측정한다. 이 연구를 통해 CHC가 수컷 초파리에 대한 기피 효과가 있음을 확인하였으며 추출되는 수컷의 연령이 높을수록 cVA에 의한 번식률 감소가 크게 나타났다. 본 연구를 통해 페로몬을 통한 초파리의 방제 가능성 을 확인하였으므로 다른 곤충의 방제에도 적용할 수 있을 거라 기대한다. 페로몬은 생물 농축과 같은 환경적 영향이 없으며 소량으로 유의미한 결과를 도출했다는 점에서 의의가 있으며 상용화를 통해 해충에 의해 피해를 해결할 수 있을 것이라 기대한다.

The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) plays a crucial role in insect immunity and development by metabolizing oxylipins such as EpOMEs and EETs. This study investigates sEH's involvement in insect antiviral response against Autographacalifornicanuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) infection. Viral infection assays were performed on Plutellaxylostellaand Marucavitrata, utilizing occlusion bodies (OB, via feeding) and budded virus (BV, through injection). Insect mortality was monitored every 12 h for up to 7 days. Our findings demonstrated a dose-dependent impact of both virus forms (OB and BV) on insects. Additionally, the sEH inhibitor, AUDA (12-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido) dodecanoic acid), was employed alongside the virus. The results indicated that combining AUDA with the virus increased insect mortality. Furthermore, fluorescence assays revealed the gradual movement of the virus from the gut to hemolymph and fat body. AUDA was observed to expedite virus infection. Moreover, sEH expression rapidly increased along with the viral infection in Spodoptera exigua. RNA interference of sEH expression enhanced the viral virulence against S.exigua. These suggest that EpOMEs play crucial roles in immune resolution against viral infection in insects.

Since 2007, diamide insecticides have been widely used in Korea to control various types of lepidopteran pests including Spodoptera exigua. For nearly a decade, diamide resistance in field populations of S. exigua across 18 localities has been monitored using bioassays. Based on the LC50 values, some field populations showed a high level of resistance against chlorantraniliprole, although regional and temporal variations were observed. To investigate resistance at a molecular level, mutations (Y4701C, I4790M, and G4946E) were examined in the ryanodine receptor (RyR), which is the primary mechanism underlying diamide insecticide resistance. As a result, only I4790M mutation was found in most of field populations. As resistance levels varied significantly despite the uniform presence of the I4790M mutation, we considered the presence of another resistance factor. Further, the I4790M mutation was also found in S. exigua specimens collected prior to the commercialization of diamide insecticides in Korea as well as in other countries, such as the USA. This finding led us to hypothesize that the I4790M mutation were predisposed in field populations owing to selection factors other than diamide use. For further clarification, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of S. exigua (449.83 Mb) and re-sequencing of 18 individuals. However, no additional non-synonymous mutations were detected in the RyR-coding region. Therefore, the high level of diamide insecticide resistance in Korean S. exigua is not caused by mutations at the target site, RyR, but is attributed to other factors that need to be investigated in future studies.

Helicoverpa assulta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) exhibits a specialized herbivorous diet, primarily targeting select Solanaceae plants. Despite its significant economic impact as a pest, causing substantial harm to crops like hot pepper and tobacco, it has received comparatively limited attention in research compared to its generalist counterparts, H. armigera and H. zea.We introduce a chromosome level genome assembly using a Korean H. assulta (Pyeongchang strain, K18). This assembly was achieved through a combined approach utilizing Nanopore long-read sequencing (approximately 78X coverage) and Illumina NovaSeq short-read sequencing (approximately 54X coverage). The total assembled genome spans 424.36 Mb, designated as ASM2961881v1, comprises 62 scaffolds, with 98.7% of the genome contained within 31 scaffolds, confirming the insect's chromosome count (n = 31). The completeness of the assembly is reflected in BUSCO assessment, with values reaching 99.0%, while the repeat content accounts for 33.01%, and 18,593 CDS were annotated. Additionally, 137 genes were identified within 15 orthogroups that have rapidly expanded in H. assulta, while 149 genes in 95 orthogroups have rapidly contracted. This genome draft serves as a valuable resource to explore various aspects of the specialist's biology, enabling research into host-range evolution, chemical communication, insecticide resistance, and comparative investigations with other Heliothine species.

모기는 감염병을 매개하는 종으로 전염병 확산 억제를 위해서는 개체수의 감시와 정확한 예측이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 모기 개체수 및 기상 및 현장 자료를 활용해 모기 개체수 머신러닝 모델을 개발하였다. 모기 개체수는 디지털 모기 측정기(Digital Mosquito Monitoring System, DMS)의 2015 년~2022년의 5월~10월의 자료를 활용하였다. 기상 자료는 기온, 강수량, 풍속, 습도를 사용하였으며, 현장 조사 자료는 현장을 명목척도와 서열척도로 나누어 기록하여, 명목 척도의 경우 원핫 인코딩으 로 변환해 수치화하여 사용하였다. 분석에 사용된 머신러닝 모델은 Artificial Neural Network, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine, Support Vector Machine이며 성능지표로 R2, RMSE를 사용하였다. 연구 결과, Gradient Boosting 모델이 R2 0.4, RMSE 22.45로 가장 좋은 성능을 나타냈다. 현장 조사 자료 를 분석에 활용하였을 때 R2는 증가하였고, RMSE는 감소하였다. 본 연구 결과 모기 개체수에 현장 조사 자료가 예측 정확도를 향상시킬 수 있음을 확인하였다.

Family Nolidae has not much been treated as noticeable pest. In other countries, there are some pest species like Garella musculana (Erschoff, 1874), Uraba lugens Walker, 1866, and Earias insulana (Boisduval, 1833), but those are not reported in Korea. Recently, the occurrence of a nolid species, Meganola major (Hampson, 1894) has been increasing, especially in Jeollanam-do Prov. This species is mainly distributed in Indian subregion and Southeast Asia, but also East Asia reported, but until now, there are no outbreak information. Neverthereless, recent outbreak might be lead by global warming, and their growth stage. This seems to be evidence of the potential outbreak risk of nolid moths, but unfortunately, their ecology is not mostly well-studied. In this discussion, we are focusing on the potential outbreak of nolid moths in East Asiatic and Oriental regions.