In our previous study with sequenced data from DNA barcoding region of Korean Tettigonia showed that the Jeju population of T. ussuriana (JJ-Tu) more closely related to T. dolichoptera than mainland population of T. ussuriana (ML-Tu) with low genetic distance (0.87-1.05%). In mitochondrial systematics for a eukaryotic organism including orthopteran insects, sequence data from a short mitochondrial DNA fragment should be trait with caution because nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (numts) can be unintentionally coamplified when we use universal primers based on a PCR method. In this study, we retried their sequence analysis to avoid coamplication of numts in sequences from cox1 and cox2 genes. and scrutinized each sequence. The molecular evidences (cox1, cox2, and nad1) for Korean species suggest that JJ-Tu is more closely related to T. dolichoptera (0.76-1.23% in cox1; 1.23-1.54% in cox2; 1.01-1.35% in nad1) than ML-Tu (3.77-4.59% in cox1; 3.61-4.76% in cox2; 2.03-3.25 in nad1). The genetic distance of sequence data from cox1 between JJ-Tu and ML-Tu satisfied a requirement for species-distinction by comparing genetic distance between Tettigonia species. Moreover, JJ-Tu is a geographic population of Tettigonia with different morphological traits that is supported with formed a cluster. Although JJ-Tu closely related to T. dolichoptera with low genetic distance, we will determine its taxonomic status through integrative taxonomic study.

Animal-assisted-activity programs are often used in pediatric hospital settings to provide emotional support and diversion, however there is little research about their efficacy. AAA for using insect affect children was examined in this study of 50 elementary school children. Self-reported (self-esteem, sociality and stress) were measured. Self-esteem and sociality rating of the children, and display of positive affect were enhance in the AAA group. This study provides further support to the numerous health benefits of AAA, particularly for children in elementary school.

한국산 버섯벌레과에 속해 있는 방아벌레붙이아과(Languriinae Crotch)를 분류학적으로 검토하였다. 한국산 방아벌레붙이아과에는 1족, 2속, 9종이 포함되는데, 그 중 Anadastus ruficeps (Crotch)와 Anadastus praetermissus (Janson) 2종을 국내에서 처음으로 보고한다.

Scarabaeus typhon has the extensively wide distribution from Europe to the Far East Asia and the extremely similar morphological feature with closely related species. The Korean population of S. typhon had often been confused in its specific status including several misidentifications and synonymous name. By these circumstances, we presumed that there is a possibility to exist potential cryptic species or subspecies, which might be separated between local populations across their distribution range. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to reassess that the geographical populations of S. typhon can be divided into each other and to establish a sketchy knowledge of its unknown phylogenetic relationships between the relatives using COI gene and comparative morphology. As the result, S. typhon was detected as a single species despite to have the wide distribution and the various intraspecific distances ranging from 0.67% to 3.50%. Two species, S. pius and S. babori were revealed to have two distinct lineages respectively. Among them, two Korean female specimens were detected belonging to group B of S. pius, it is suggested as a cryptic species or subspecies.

We report Conilepia nigricosta (Leech, 1988) in Korea for the first time. The female of C. nigricosta is nearly identical to the female of Lithosia quadra, and it has caused confusion in the generic classification. Therefore, we reexamined their morphology and also performed to analyze DNA barcode region compared with species of other related genera. As the results, the significant diagnoses between the two species were reconfirmed and provided in the adult appearances, wing venations, and genital structures in both sexes. The DNA barcoding results also showed a large genetic distance ranging from 6.21% to 7.16% between the two species. In phylogenetic relationship for these two species as well as 28 related species of Lithosiina, C. nigricosta was clustered as a sister to L. quadra and they formed a strong monophyletic group. It supports a possibility that these two genera may be a single genus, but more detailed molecular analysis using additional genetic markers and samples is needed to resolve reliable phylogenetic relationships between the taxa examined in this study.

The previous studies for phylogenetic relationships within Elateridae were carried out, but not constructed a reliable evolutionary hypothesis. This study attempted to establish a robust evolutionary hypothesis, focusing on major subfamilies of the family Elateridae sensu stricto, using extensively selected 12 genetic markers, COI, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and 8 nuclear genes. As the results, phylogenetic analyses for 12 multiple genes constructed robust phylogeny with almost very strongly supported nodal values (>90%) and represented that the previously questioned systematic positions of nine subfamilies are fully resolved, excepting the basal lineage split. Especially, three subfamilies, which were recently reduced into tribal rank, Hypnoidinae, Oxynopterinae, and Denticollinae are monophyletic, respectively, and it is supported the traditional taxonomic schemes that had been treated these three taxa in subfamily rank. Whereas, Elaterinae, Hiopinae, and Melanotinae are clustered to a monophyletic group. Two tribes, Denticollini and Ctenicerini in Denticollinae are paraphyletic, respectively and it needs to reclassify their systematic positions. This study recovering of relationships between subfamilies using 12 gene loci resulted that their phylogenetic relationships are sufficiently and successfully resolved with strong supported nodes and provided more possible interpretations from subfamily to tribal levels than the previous studies.

The genus Capsus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae) from the Korean Peninsula is reviewed. Biological information such as host plants and distributions, and important morphological characters for each species are presented. Photographs of the Korean specimens and illustrations of male genitalia, and diagnoses based on main characters with a key to the Palaearctic species are provided.

Precautionary measures are cost-effective for the introduction and management of industrial insects. However, the Influx of exotic pests has not been managed very well in Korea, because of the system problems such as the lack of quarantine facilities. Additionally, there is no managing facilities or regulations for their installation according to the categories about industrial insects in Korea. Firstly, we studied the foreign guidelines for arthropod containment system such as ACLs(Arthropod Containment Levels) and the applicable guidelines for insect quarantine facilities in Korea. Secondly, we classified the types of industrial insects by their characteristics and considered the practicable guidelines for installation of quarantine facilities according to the industrial insect types. Lastly, with the related references including the details about installation and management for LMO(Living genetically Modified Organism) research facilities, we discussed appropriate guidelines for installation and management of pest quarantine system in Korea.

The effect of an artificial diet on the developmental rate, a life history parameter, was examined for the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus. Artificial insect diets are an essential component of many insect rearing systems that produce insects for research purposes. Complex agar-gelled diets are generally prepared in large batches and used shortly after preparation because the degradation of perishable diet ingredients, such as vitamins and fatty acids, can adversely affect insect quality (Brewer F D 1984). However, the timing of diet preparation may be inconvenient and large batches wasteful if the unused, excess diet is discarded. This study showed that if the artificial diet was fed during the larval stage, the larval and pupal developmental periods, the percentage of pupation, and the pupal weight generally did not differ significantly among the five artificial diets evaluated. The percentage of pupation varied considerably, with no significant differences among diets except for diet C. A maximum pupation percentage of 83% was observed on diet C. Pellet-type diets were investigated with the aim of developing a more easily prepared diet. The extrusion of the artificial diet under high temperature and pressure may induce desirable chemical and physical changes in the extruded product. The purpose of the present study was to develop an artificial diet for rearing P. xuthus.

Using eight universal primers and new designed 315 species-specific primers, we tried to retrieve COI sequences from 45 dried specimens of 36 butterfly species collected from 1959 to 1980. The eight universal primers were entirely failed in PCR amplification and sequencing of all specimens. In the other hand, the 315 primers, targeting fragments of 71–417 bp, generated various lengths of COI sequences ranged from 444 bp to 658 bp from all specimens. Among 284 primer pairs, 26 primer pairs designed for Limenitis camilla, Argynnis niobe, and Brenthis daphne were success to produce COI sequences of congeneric speices, Limenitis doerriesi, Argynnis nerippe, and Brenthis ino. It suggests that the species-specific primers can be applied for analyzing COI sequences of closely related species. Our study reveals that newly designed species-specific primers will be effective to retrieval of COI sequences of old butterfly specimens.

This study was conducted to investigate insect fauna in the four insect garden sites of Suwon, Yeongyang, Buyeo and Yecheon from 2005 to 2007. Seasonal population size of insects was largest from June to August in all the four sites. In the four sites, Coleopteran insects were dominant followed by Hemiptera and Orthoptera. Unique education/learning programs are successfully run at the insect gardens based on the three geographic types (i.e. urban, mountainous and rural). These activities will help preserve insect biodiversity in the area and visitors better understand life forms such as insects found in the areas.

The Wolbachia bacterium, one of the most prevalent endosymbiotic bacteria, is known to induce reproductive anomalies such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, feminization, male killing and parthenogenesis in various arthropod species. The bacterium is considered to have had huge impacts on hosts' reproductive biology, immunity, evolution, and molecular machineries. Infection surveys on the bacterium have rather been limited to specific taxa that are mainly of economical importance or conducted with randomly collected organisms. Here we investigated infection frequency of Wolbachia in 206 Coleopteran insects collected from Korea. Among them 28 species (13.59%) across families proved to harbor Wolbachia. The phylogenetic trees based on the partial 16s rRNA gene and the partial Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene of Wolbachia show that all the Wolbachia strains belong to either Supergroup A or B and Wolbachia evolved independently from its hosts. In addition, the cophylogenetic analysis of the 16s rRNA gene and wsp gene implies that there have been horizontal DNA transfers and recombination events within and between divergent Wolbachia supergroups.