Division of the risk management, APQA(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency) is conducting the IRA(Import Risk Assessment) to prevent the introduction of pests when importing foreign agricultural products. In the 2023 IRA, 55 cases of 19 items from 23 countries was analyzed, and fresh avocado(variety: HASS) from the Philippines was concluded in September 2023 and can be imported in accordance with appropriate phytosanitary measures. The main issue in the IRA of fresh avocado fruits from the Philippines was whether HASS variety avocados were host plants of Bactrocera dorsalis. As a result of the risk analysis, B. dorsalis were included in the pest list that needs to be managed by special risk management. As a risk management for B. dorsalis, one trap using methyl-eugenol is installed per 20 ha once a week. After surveying, if the population is more than 2/trap/day, control measures such as adding traps and spraying pesticides are necessary. As equivalence, regionalization, and transparency have been strengthened with the recent entry into force of the mega FTA, a higher level of scientific basis is required. Accordingly, division of the risk management, APQA is working harder to improve its expertise, and we need your cooperation and attention of the IRAs.

본 연구는 서식 환경에 따라 구분된 3화기 미국흰불나방(Hyphantria cunea Drury)을 숙주로 하는 기생파리의 종과 기생률의 차이를 확인했다. 조사 기간은 2023년 10월 24일부터 29일까지로, 방제를 실시한 서천군 국립생태 원과 방제를 실시하지 않은 군산시 근린공원에서 숙주인 미국흰불나방의 유충을 채집하였다. 유충은 기주식물 인 수국을 급여하여 실내 개별 사육하였다. 각 조사지에서 미국흰불나방의 기주식물은 국립생태원에서 8종, 근린공원에서 6종이 확인되었다. 총 숙주 380마리 중 기생파리는 106개체로 총 27.9%의 기생률을 보였고(유충 92개체, 미동정 알 14개체), 기생률은 근린공원이(39.6%) 국립생태원(12.5%)보다 더 높았다. 성충의 우화율은 63.0%로, 동정 결과 4속 92개체가 나타났다. 전체 종과 가장 많은 개체가 확인된 Exorista japonica (Townsend, 1909)의 조사지에 따른 유충 생존율과 성충 우화율은 모두 근린공원이 더 높은 것으로 확인 되었다. 조사결과 E. japonica가 미국흰불나방의 생물적 방제제로 유효할 것이라 판단되며, 근린공원에서의 더 높은 기생파리 유충 생존율과 성충 우화율을 통해 인간에 의한 교란이 적은 환경에서 기생파리를 이용한 미국흰불나방 방제가 더 효과적일 것이라고 고려된다. 또한 숙주의 생존율과 기생파리의 우화율을 비교한 결과 해충 방제가 이뤄지지 않는 환경에서 천적 개체군이 유지될 가능성이 더 높다고 사료 된다.

최근 소나무재선충병 항공방제를 위해 살포한 네오니코티노이드계 농약이 꿀벌 폐사에 영향을 미친다는 우 려와 이슈가 제기됨에 따라 산림청은 소나무재선충병 항공방제를 중지하고 해당 약제들을 방제용 약종 결정에 서 제외시켰다. 본 연구에서는 북방수염하늘소의 항공방제를 위해 꿀벌 독성이 낮은 살충제를 선발하여 살충효 과를 조사하고 향후 방제 약제로 활용하고자 한다. 꿀벌 독성이 낮은 살충제를 선발하기 위해 The Pestcide Manual Nineteenth Edition(BCPC)에서 살충제 원제 231 종을 대상으로 꿀벌에 대한 접촉독성이 100㎍/bee 이상인 원제 중에서 테트라닐리프롤 액상수화제, 아피도피로 펜 미탁제, 플로니카미드 입상수용제, 플루벤디아마이드 액상수화제, 피메트로진 입상수화제 5개의 약종을 선 발하였다. 선발한 약제 5종을 소나무재선충병의 매개충인 북방수염하늘소에 직접 분무하고 시간경과별 살충효 과를 조사한 결과, 피메트로진 입상수화제에서 분무 후 1일차에 약 53.3%의 가장 높은 방제율을 나타냈으며, 3일차에는 86.7%, 5일차에는 100%로 매우 효과적인 살충효과를 나타냈다.

Behavioral modulation by genetic changes garners a special attention nowadays as an effective means of revealing genetic function on the one hand and broadening the scope of in situ monitoring on the other hand. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase was treated to the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis. Automatic recognition techniques and computational methods were utilized to investigate behavioral changes across photo- and scoto-phases. Movement behaviors are objectively expressed according to parameter extraction and data structure visualization in different light phases. By comapring with the individuals without treatment, activities of treated thrips were changed including decrease in circadian rhythm. Usefulness of automatic monitoring of insect movement in different genetic strains is further discussed for providing useful information on monitoring and diagnosing natural and unntatural genetic disturbances.

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, is one of the economically important agricultural pests globally, as it attacks a wide range of vegetable and horticultural crops. In this study, we evaluated spatial repellent and oviposition deterrent activities of T.urticae in response to fifteen compounds derived from ester-containing natural products. To evaluate the tests, we used bridge two-choice test and host two-choice test in laboratory conditions. Among the eight compounds showed spatial repellent and oviposition deterrent activities against T. urticae at the 20 mg dose and some compounds had the activities at lower dose. We also conducted two-choice test with a blend and single compounds to determine which showed stronger spatial repellent and oviposition deterrent activities. In host two-choice test, we evaluate repellence between distance of compounds. This study concluded that series compounds from ester-containing natural products have the potential to be used managing T. urticae in the field.

RNA interference (RNAi) has been applied to control insect pests using gene silencing machinery in which small interfering RNA derived from dsRNA specifically degrades target mRNA. This study optimized dsRNA insecticide specific to thrips infecting hot peppers. Among potent candidate target genes, vATPase B was chosen because its RNAi was highly efficient as much as Snf7, a well-known RNAi target gene. Although RNAi specific vATPase B is lethal to Frankliniella occidentalis, it was not much effective to control other thrips species such as F. intonsa and Thrips tabaci. To expand its target spectrum, we devised a mixture treatment of dsRNA specific to individual species. As expected, each dsRNA was highly efficient in a species-specific manner. This supported the hypothesis of 21mer identity for the efficient RNAi. However, the dsRNA mixture efficiently killed the three thrips species in a crop field. To further expand its spectrum to the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, we applied virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to produce dsRNA in the hot peppers using Tobacco Rattle Virus. VIGS successfully suppressed control gene. dsRNA produced by VIGS gave significnat mortality to B. tabaci in addition to the thrips. These results suggest a technique to expand dsRNA insecticide spectrum using a mixture treatment and VIGS in insect pest control_.

Xenorhabdus와 Photorhabdus 속은 각각 곤충병원성 선충인 Steinernema와 Heterorhabditis에 공생하는 공생세 균이다. 감염성 선충의 유충은 공생세균을 표적 곤충의 혈강에 전달하고, 여기서 세균이 증식하여 숙주 선충의 발달을 돕는다. 이러한 선충과 세균 복합체의 성공적 공생관계는 세균의 이차대사산물을 통한 숙주의 면역억제 에 달려져 있다고 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 서로 다른 살충력을 보이는 6종의 Xenorhabdus를 확보하고 이러한 차이가 세균의 성장속도와 NRPS (Non ribosomal peptide synthease)에 의해 생성되는 세균의 이차대사산물 발현에 서 기원한다는 것을 확인하였다. 서로 다른 균주들은 콩명나방 (Tenebrio molitor)에 대한 살충력에 차이를 가지고 있었다. 이러한 세균들은 TSB 배지에서는 세균 성장 속도에 차이가 존재하지 않았지만 콩명나방 혈강 내에서는 세균의 성장 속도에 차이가 존재하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 각 세균의 이차대사산물 추출물을 통한 곤충의 면역 억제 실험 결과 PLA2 활성 억제, 세포독성 능력들이 살충력과 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 이차대 사산물의 경우 많은 물질이NRPS (Non ribosomal peptide synthease)에 의해 생성되므로 각 세균 별 NRPS의 유전자 발현을 보았을 때 흥미롭게도 살충력이 더 높은 스트레인의 세균이 일부 NRPS 유전자의 발현이 더 높은 것으로 나타났다. NRPS에 의해 합성되는 물질을 포함한 세균의 이차대사산물의 차이를 서로 비교하기 위하여 이차대사 산물 추출액을 GC-MS/MS를 이용하여 분석하였다. 본 연구를 통해 곤충병원세균에 살충력의 기원이 NRPS를 통해 합성되는 이차대사산물에 있다는 것을 확인하였으며 이를 이용한 다양한 NRPS 유래 물질 연구는 신규 살충 물질 개발에 들어가는 비용과 시간을 획기적으로 줄일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

담배가루이는 전세계의 온대 및 아열대 지방에 넓게 분포하고 있으며, 한국에서는 시설재배작물의 주요 해충 이다. 1998년 충북 친천군 장미재배지에서 처음 확인되었으며, 이후 전국적으로 확산된 것으로 추정된다. 담배가 루이는 고추, 토마토, 오이 등 300종이 넘는 넓은 기주범위를 가지며, 식물체를 흡즙하여 작물의 생산성을 저하시 키고 토마토황화잎말림바이러스(tomato yellow leaf curl virus, TYLCV) 등 100여종이 넘는 바이러스를 매개한다. 담배가루이는 주로 살충제를 이용한 방제가 이루어진다. 하지만 살충제를 이용한 방제법은 살충제 저항성 개체 를 발생시킨다. 살충제 저항성 개체가 발생하게 되면 방제 효율이 급감하여 농가에 추가적인 경제적 피해를 야기 한다. 본 연구는 국내 지역별 담배가루이를 대상으로 약제별 살충제 저항성의 발생 현황을 조사하여, 지역별 효과적인 약제를 탐색하고 향후 방제 전략 수립에 기여하고자 한다. 담배가루이는 전국 15지역(파주, 양평, 화성, 양구, 횡성, 평창, 당진, 천안, 공주, 예천, 구미, 사천, 남원, 나주, 고흥)에서 채집되었다. 살충제는 작용기작 별 사용량이 많은 8종을 선정하였으며, 엽침지법을 사용하여 살충률을 확인하였다. 곤충생장조절제(insect growth regulators, IGR) 피리프록시펜계 약제는 알을 대상으로, 그 외 7개 약제는 2령약충을 대상으로 살충률을 확인하였 다. 모든 지역에서 높은 살충력을 보인 약제는 아버멕틴과 밀베마이신계, 스피노신계, METI살충제, 디아마이드 계 약제이다. 특히 아버멕틴과 밀베마이신계 약제는 살충제 권장사용농도(10ppm)보다 낮은 8.9ppm이하의 LC90 값을 보여 감수성으로 추정되며, 예외적으로 천안 지역의 25.6ppm으로 상대적으로 높은 LC90값을 보였다. 낮은 살충력을 보인 약제는 네오니코티노이드계, 설폭시민계, 피리프록시펜계, 테트론산 및 테트람산 유도체 약제이 다 특히 네오니코티노이드계 약제는 모든 지역에서 살충제 권장사용농도(50ppm)보다 높은 715ppm이상의 LC90 값을 보여, 모든 지역에서 살충제 저항성이 발생한 것으로 추정된다. 실험결과를 통해 살충제 별 살충력의 차이와 지역별 살충제 저항성을 검정하였다. 연구결과를 통해 지역별/약제별 저항성관리 및 대응전략을 수립하여 농업 생산성을 향상시키는 것에 도움이 되고자 한다.

Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773)) is an invasive species originating from Asia, posing a potential threat to the ecosystem and the wine industry in New Zealand due to wine taint, although it can also be a useful biocontrol agent. In this study, the response profiles of antennal olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) to 32 plant volatiles were examined in male and female H. axyridis, using the single sensillum recording technique. Various types of ORNs were identified from four types of olfactory sensilla in both male and female H. axyridis, with no sexual dimorphism. The most abundant type of sensilla contained two ORNs exhibiting highly specialized responses to methyl benzoate and β-caryophyllene, respectively. Another type of sensilla also contained two specialized ORNs, one responsive to geranyl acetate and the other to some aromatic compounds such as 2-phenylethanol, benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate, and methyl phenylacetate. In contrast, two other types of sensilla contained broadly tuned ORNs, one containing ORN(s) responsive to six-carbon alcohols such as (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, and isomers of 2-hexen-1-ol as well as some other non-alcohol green leaf volatiles, and the other containing ORN(s) exhibiting responses to β-myrcene, geraniol, linalool, nerol, benzyl acetate, and methyl phenylacetate. This study suggests that H. axyridis possesses a set of ORNs specialized for specific plant volatiles, providing insights into the olfactory communication system of this species and potential volatiles to be used for trapping this insect.

The box tree moth (BTM, Cydalima perspectalis Walker) is a pest that infests various plants within the Buxus genus. Although a specific parasitoid wasp species associated with the BTM has been observed in the Republic of Korea, no research on this species has been published. Here we describe the fundamental biological and morphological characteristics of this parasitoid. We placed the wasp under the genus Eriborus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae). Eriborus sp. parasitizes within the living host body, with one wasp emerging from each host. The parasitism rate in collected BTM populations was 33.1%. The emergence rate was 87.1%, with all emerging adults being females, resulting in a sex ratio of 0. The pupal period averaged 9.5 days, and the adult lifespan averaged 10.5 days. Eriborus sp. parasitized BTM larvae from the first to the fourth instar and reproduced by parthenogenesis. Eriborus sp. exhibited morphological differences compared with previously reported Eriborus species in Korea, particularly in the length of the ovipositor sheath. In addition, the proportion of the highest similarity in nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I DNA was only 94.53%, rendering species identification using GenBank’s mt cytochrome c oxidase 1 DNA sequences unfeasible. These data suggest Eriborus sp. could be used as a biological control agent for managing BTM infestations.

This research explores the complex interdependencies and dynamic interactions governing the adaptation of species co-evolving within the framework of Eco-Evo-Neuro-Devo, using the fascinating fig-wasp mutualism as a model system. Figs, which have many flowers blooming inside the fruit, are completely dependent on fig wasps as pollinators. The fig-wasp mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where fig trees provide a habitat and food source for specific wasp species, while the wasps, in turn, facilitate pollination and seed dispersal for the fig tree. The fig wasp is born and grows inside the fig fruit and becomes an adult. After mating, the female fig wasp is covered with pollen and enters another fruit, pollinates it and lays eggs there. In addition to the fig-wasp mutualism, additional interactions among hyperparasitic wasps, called non-pollinating fig wasp (NPFW), and flies, nematodes are frequently observed, shaping the co-evolution of the symbionts in the fig community. This study aims to identify the symbionts that make up the symbiotic system, their ecological interactions and genome evolution, and build a model to explore the mechanisms of symbiotic evolution at the molecular level. Sampling and identifying figs and fig-related insects through fieldwork in Korea, various techniques including GC-MS, in situ staining, electrophysiology, and diverse omics tools including WGS, RNA-seq will be implemented to investigate how chemical ecologies of the fig community shape the chemosensory systems of species. Additionally, we will build a cross-platform with Drosophila to narrow the distance between model species and non-model species, facilitating comparative studies across different model organism systems.

The series compounds from natural products are an effective repellent and deterrent against various kinds of pests. In this study, we evaluated the spatial repellency of fifteen compounds from natural products on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), in the laboratory and field by using two-choice and no-choice bioassays. In laboratory two-choice tests, six compounds displayed active spatial repellency against female adult mites at a 2mg dose. The repellency of each compound was also as effective as the 6-compound blend. Three of the six compounds showed the predominant repellent activity (over 90%) that lasted for at least 3 days in laboratory no-choice tests. In a field test, we found that the number of T. urticae was fewer in strawberry seeding treated lure with 2mg of these compounds than in strawberry seeding treated lure with solvent control. Given that the findings are efficacious, economical, and natural products, they can be used in the sustainable management of T. urticae in greenhouse.

Three different dogs who had immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) were treated for more than two weeks with blood transfusion in an animal clinic. Despite this treatment and hospitalization, there was no clinical improvement in clinical signs as well as complete blood cell count (CBC) including hematocrit (HCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP). All cases were then injected two or three times with allogeneic stem cells through an intravenous route for treatment. Upon administrating stem cells to the IMHA dogs, clinical conditions and the indexes of HCT and CRP were clinically improved within or close to normal ranges.