The family Nitidulidae, the largest group in Cucujoidea, comprises approximately 350 genera and nearly 4,500 recorded species across ten subfamilies. In Korea, 86 species of Nitidulidae have been recorded. They are well-known for their diverse feeding habits. Anthophagy is a common habit, with certain species from the Epuraeinae, Carpophilinae, and Meligethinae recognized as pollinators. Despite their ecological significance, these groups rarely studied in Korea, due to their small size and morphological similarities. Our study reviews Korean species in three subfamilies, identifying 14 unrecorded species and 2 newly described species, and describes their ecological habits.

장내 미생물 군집은 소화 과정, 면역 시스템, 질병 발생 등 숙주의 다양한 면에 광범위한 영향을 주는 것으로 알려져 있으며, 주요 장내 미생물 종은 숙주의 생리 기능에 핵심적인 역할을 수행한다고 발표된 바 있다. 곤충의 장내 미생물 군집에 관한 연구가 최근 활발히 이루어지고 있으며, 이들 연구는 주로 장내 미생물 군집과 기생충, 병원체 간의 상호작용, 종간의 신호 전달 네트워크, 먹이의 소화 과정 등을 중심으로 이루어지고 있다. 이러한 연구들은 대부분 Illumina MiSeq을 활용하여 16S rRNA 유전자의 V1부터 V9 영역 중 선택된 특정 부분을 대상으로 짧은 서열 정보를 대상으로 진행되었다. 그러나, 최근에는 PacBio HiFi 기술이 상용화되면서 16S rRNA의 전장 분석이 가능할 수 있게 되었다. 이번 연구는 장수말벌(Vespa mandarinia)의 해부를 통해 gut과 carcass 부분을 분리한 뒤, 각 샘플을 Illumina MiSeq과 PacBio HiFi 기술을 활용하여 미생물 군집 간의 차이점을 확인하기 위하여 수행되었다.

왕피천 수계 내 저서성 대형무척추동물의 군집구조 분석을 위해 총 5개 지점에서 2023년 총 4회(4월, 6월, 8월 11월) 조사를 실시하였다. 조사기간 중 저서성 대형무척추동물은 총 5문 7강 17목 77과 156종 17,179.1개체/㎡가 채집되었다. 수환경 변화에 민감한 E.P.T. 분류군은 전체 156종 중 91종이 출현하여, 전체 출현종의 58.3%를 차지 하였다. 섭식기능군(FFGs) 분석결과, 종 출현 양상은 육식성 포식자(Predator: P)가 51종(32.69%)으로, 개체 출현 양상은 주워먹는 무리(Gathering-collector: GC)가 6,867.2개체/㎡(39.97%)로 높은 비율로 출현하였다. 서식기능 군(FHGs) 분석결과, 붙는 무리(Clinger: CL)가 70종(44.87%), 12,720.6개체/㎡(74.04%)로 가장 높은 비율로 출현 하였다. 군집지수 분석결과, 우점도지수(DI) 0.43, 다양도지수(H′) 3.51, 풍부도지수(R1) 4.59 균등도지수(J′) 0.77 로 나타났다. 생물학적 수질 판정 지수(BMI) 분석결과, 평균 92.36(±0.83)으로 모든 지점에서 “매우 좋음”으로 판정되었다.

An unrecorded gall midge was discovered from inflorescence galls on Castanopsis sieboldii (Makino) Hatus. ex T.Yamaz. & Mashiba, which is one of major components in evergreen forests on the Korean Peninsula. The galls occurred on 20 trees out of 230 on Yokiji Island. The gall midge was identified as Schizomyia castanopsisae Elsayed & Tokuda, 2018 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), using morphological characters and mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) region sequences of gall midge’s larvae. The Barcode sequences of 40 samples collected from Yokji Island were identical, and the individuals from Yokji Island formed a clade with the individuals from Kyushu, with robust bootstrap support in a maximum likelihood tree. This result suggests the gall midges may have migrated from Kyushu, Japan to Yokji Island, South Korea. However, it is too early to determine if the gall midge is truly invasive or not at present due to paucity of distribution data in the country.

국내 원예작물에서 화분매개곤충의 의존도는 해마다 증가하고 있다. 우리는 사과, 딸기 등 화분매개곤충의 의존도가 높은 주요 과수와 시설작물에 대하여 화분매개곤충의 사용기술을 개발하고 이를 현장에 적용하는 연구를 수행하고 있다. 2021년부터 2022년까지 딸기, 키위 등 5가지 주요 농작물에서 화분매개벌을 적용한 결과, 딸기에서 뒤영벌의 적용결과 기존 꿀벌과 통계적으로 같은 수준의 화분매개효과를 나타내었으며, 하우스에서 농약적용시 하우스 밖으로 벌통을 위치시키는 것이 방치보다 벌의 소실을 20% 더 감소시킬 수 있었다. 인공수분 에 의존하고 있는 씨없는 수박에서 수분수 식재와 꿀벌을 이용함으로 기존 벌 방사보다 16% 착과율을 향상시킬 수 있었다. 시설고추에서 꿀벌과 뒤영벌의 혼합사용시 기존 꿀벌 방사보다 고추 수량이 10% 향상되었고, 토마토 에서 660㎡당 뒤영벌의 봉군량을 1.5배 증가시 토마토 수량은 4.4% 향상되었다. 키위는 꿀벌로 기존의 인공수분 을 충분히 대체할 수 있었고, 인건비가 60%이상 절감되었다. 또한 현재 시판중인 30종의 살충제와 27종의 살균제 에 대하여 24시간내 반수치사를 보인 농약은 각각 살충제 6종와 살균제 4종 이었다. 이어서 2023년부터 참외, 멜론, 사과, 단감에 대한 현장적용연구가 진행되고 있다.

Bee traffic at the hive entrance can be used as an important indicator of foraging activity. We investigated patterns of honeybees and bumblebees near their hives as a basis for calculating bee traffic using the image deep learning. The flight pattern near the hive differed significantly according to bee at entering and leaving the hive. Honeybees mainly showed flight that changed flight direction more than once (69.5%), whereas bumblebees mainly performed straight flight (48.7%) or had a single turn (36.5%) in flight. When bees entered the hive, honeybees primarily showed one-turn or two-turn flight patterns(88.5%), and bumblebees showed a one-turn flight pattern (48.0%). In contrast, when leaving the hive, honeybees primarily showed a straight flight pattern (63.0%), and bumblebees primarily showed a straight or one-turn pattern (90.5%). There was a significant difference in flight speed according to the flight pattern. The speed of straight flight (0.89±0.47 m/s) was 1.5 to 2.1 times faster than flight where direction changed. Therefore, our results can help determine the capturing and recognizing the flying image of bees when calculating bee traffic by image deep learning.

M. pruinosa has been found on 98 families and 345 species of plants, indicating a wide host range. Since its first report in a persimmon orchard in Gimhae in 2009, it had spread to 126 municipalities over 12,429 ha. Because of powerful dispersal ability, it’s difficult to control with insecticides. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the population density through the release of M. pruinosa’s natural enemy, N. typhlocybae. N. typhlocybae females prey on or externally parasitize the nymphs of M. pruinosa. This natural enemy was introduced from Italy in 2017 through an international cooperative project between National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and University of Padova for controlling the sporadic pest, Metcalfa pruinosa. This study reported the results of mass rearing N. typhlocybae indoors and releasing them outdoors from 2020 to 2023 in 21 regions nationwide, showing an average parasitism rate of 27.3% and an average production of 7.9 cocoons per host, suggesting the possibility of their establishment in Korea.

Melanoplus differentialis (Thomas, 1865) is a widely distributed Orthopteran species in North America, including the United States and Mexico. Known for causing damage to various crops such as vegetables and grains throughout its lifecycle. In South Korea, it has been observed concentratedly in the vicinity of the Onsan National Industrial Park in Ulsan and was designated as “Ecosystem Disturbing Species” by Ministy of Environment in 2020. This study aims to present foundational data on pest management strategies for Melanoplus differentialis identified within the Onsan National Industrial Park. Through collaborative efforts between the National Institute of Ecology, related agencies, and tenant private companies from 2020 to 2023, we will demonstrate the reduction in habitat area as a result of proactive pest control measures.

Calonecrinae represent a unique but small subfamily of Nitidulidae that is endemic to South Asia. Their habitats, the South Asian lowland forests, are under the imminent threat of degradation, posing a risk of rapid extinction for these species in their specific locales. Despite the looming threat to their existence, our understanding of this enigmatic group remains limited. We conducted an examination of museum and newly collected specimens, alongside a review of the literature, leading to the discovery of a new species, Calonecrus mindanaoensis, from Mindanao, Philippines. For the first time, the morphology of all immature stages of the Calonecrinae was described, with detailed photographs including SEM images. Additionally, their natural history was uncovered for the first time, revealing that all life stages are uniquely adapted to spending their entire life cycle within sticky resin. We re-evaluated the phylogenetic placement of the Calonecrinae by constructing a phylogenetic tree based on the mitochondrial genome. Calonecrinae are positioned within the Epuraeinae clade and show significant affinity with the genus Trimenus. Consequently, this study proposes reclassifying Calonecrinae as Calonecrini stat nov, an extremely modified tribe within the Epuraeinae.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a key enzyme that terminates impulse transmission by rapidly hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses. Previous studies have discovered a transiently opening channel referred to as the “back door” in Torpedo californica AChE. Previously, we observed that substituting the Tyr391 residue with a Phe residue significantly decreased the catalytic efficiency of recombinant Apis mellifera AChE1 (AmAChE1), while the reverse substitution restored it. Interestingly, substitution of the Tyr391 residue with a Phe residue in AmAChE1 disrupted the formation of the backdoor, while the reverse substitution restored it. This finding suggests that the Tyr-to-Phe substitution impairs backdoor formation, thereby leading to a significant reduction in the catalytic activity of AmAChE1. This serves as one of the driving forces for the functional transition from AmAChE1 to AmAChE2. In this experiment, we also confirmed the gradual restoration and increase in AChE activity by substituting Phe391 in AmAChE1 with Ser, Trp, Thr, Ile, Asn, and Tyr residues through kinetic assay and molecular dynamics simulation.

This study investigated the seasonal occurrence of bark and wood-boring Coleoptera in Pinus densiflora (Siebold & Zucc.) (Pinales: Pinaceae), and Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) (Pinales: Pinaceae) stands using multi-funnel traps baited with pine volatiles in Korea. The number and species of bark and woodboring beetles caught in traps baited with ethanol, α-pinene, and ethanol+α-pinene were compared to determine the effective attractants. In addition, the effects of other pine volatiles, such as (-)-β-pinene, β-caryophyllene, (±)-limonene, β-myrcene, and 3-carene, were investigated. A total of 13,134 wood-boring beetles from 150 species were collected from pine and larch stands from 2019 to 2020. Tomicus minor (Hartig) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were more attracted to traps baited with α-pinene, whereas Xyleborinus saxesenii (Ratzeburg) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Cyclorhipidion pelliculosum (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Phloeosinus pulchellus (Blandford) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were more attracted to traps baited with ethanol. Hylurgops interstitialis (Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Shirahoshizo genus group, Rhagium inquisitor (Linne) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Rhadinomerus maebarai (Voss & Chûjô) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were more frequently attracted to traps baited with ethanol+α-pinene than to traps baited with other attractants. The addition of 3-carene to ethanol+α-pinene enhanced the capture of H. interstitialis, R. inquisitor, and Hylobius (Callirus) haroldi (Faust) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Global warming and changes in ecosystems are either causing a rapid decline in insect diversity on earth or, on the other hand, are increasing the likelihood of unexpected insect pests emerging. This study summarizes and reports the followings: Introduction to the Insects of Red Data Book of Korea and Nationally Protected species, the establishment of monitoring strategy for exotic insects by the investigation of species distribution range through field surveys and others, the dispersal of exotic insects, and with the expansion of exotic insects and development of ecosystem impact prediction model.

본 연구를 통해 국내에 분포하는 중기문응애류 중 파리응애과의 Holostaspella crenulata Krantz, 1967 (톱니무늬파리응애, 신칭) 와 화살응애 과의 Lasioseius floridensis Berlese, 1916 (가슴선화살응애, 신칭) 를 처음으로 확인하고, 각 종에 대한 분류학적 진단과 분포정보, 성충의 현미경사 진과 도판을 제시하였다.

Halictidae 전 세계적으로 3,500종 이상 발견된 큰 그룹이며 사람들의 땀에 이끌리는 특성을 보여 Sweat bee라는 이름으로 불린다. 이번 연 구에서는 꼬마꽃벌과에 속하는 Halictus hedini hedini Blüthgen, 1934을 한국에서 처음으로 보고한다. 본 종의 기재, 분포정보, 그리고 삽화를 제공 한다.

Background: Sperm quality and the number of sperm introduced into the uterus during artificial insemination (AI) are pivotal factors influencing pregnancy outcomes. However, there have been no reports on the relationship between sperm concentration at AI and sperm quality in Hanwoo cattle. In this study, we examined sperm quality and pregnancy rates after AI using sperm inseminated at different concentrations. Methods: We evaluated the motility, viability, and acrosomal membrane integrity of sperm at different concentrations (10, 15, 18, and 20 million sperm/straw) in 0.5-mL straws. Subsequently, we compared the pregnancy rates after AI with different sperm concentrations. Results: After freeze-thawing, sperm at the assessed concentrations showed similar viability and acrosomal membrane integrity. After AI, cattle in the 10 million group had significantly lower pregnancy rates compared to those in the 18 and 20 million groups. Conversely, there were no statistically significant variances observed between cattle in the 10 and 15 million groups. Conclusions: Sperm at concentrations of 10, 15, 18 and 20 million per straw exhibited comparable motility, viability, and acrosomal membrane integrity. However, a concentration of at least 18 million sperm per straw is required to achieve a consistent rate of pregnancy rate in Hanwoo cattle after AI.

The aim of this study is to ensure the structural integrity of a canister to be used in a dry storage system currently being developed in Korea. Based on burnup and cooling periods, the canister is designed with 24 bundles of spent nuclear fuel stored inside it. It is a cylindrical structure with a height of 4,890 mm, an internal diameter of 1,708 mm, and an inner length of 4,590 mm. The canister lid is fixed with multiple seals and welds to maintain its confinement boundary to prevent the leakage of radioactive waste. The canister is evaluated under different loads that may be generated under normal, off-normal, and accident conditions, and combinations of these loads are compared against the allowable stress thresholds to assess its structural integrity in accordance with NUREG-2215. The evaluation result shows that the stress intensities applied on the canister under normal, off-normal, and accident conditions are below the allowable stress thresholds, thus confirming its structural integrity.

본 연구에서는 쑥에서 서식하는 Pleotrichophorus pseudoglandulosus (Palmer, 1952) 를 처음으로 보고한다. 무시성충에 대한 형태학적 정보, 기주식물, 분포지역, 한국에 분포하는 Pleotrichophorus 속 종들에 대한 분류키를 제공한다.

Aligned with the recent shift in fruit consumption trends, there is a growing increase in the cultivation of these fruits. Thus, various types of small fruits, including blueberries, have recently been introduced and cultivated in Korea. According to the data, there has been a notable uptick in blueberry farming, in stark contrast to the decline in cultivation of black raspberries, black chokeberries, and blackcurrants. New varieties of blueberries continue to be introduced and cultivated, aligning with the recent consumption trends and are expected to be consistently cultivated in the future. Despite the decrease in the other berries, health benefits associated with all berries have ignited growing consumer interest, resulting in domestic and international market expansion. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of identifying plant varieties that are well-suited to Korea's climatic conditions, validating efficient cultivation strategies, and establishing robust distribution networks to foster sustainable development in the berry industry.

Nasopharyngeal stenosis is defined as a morphological transition of narrowing at the nasopharyngeal region. A 2-yearold, castrated male, Korean short hair cat was referred to the animal medical center, Gyeongsang National University. According to clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, and physical examination, nasopharyngeal stenosis was diagnosed. The staphylectomy was performed using a CO2 laser, and there were not any post-operative complications. The patient was discharged in two days. This report describes the case of nasopharyngeal stenosis in cat and represents that laser ablation could be a good option for surgical management of the nasopharyngeal region with a low complication rate.