In Korea, species of the genus Ptecticus Loew, 1855 (Family Stratiomyidae) have been known as three species, P. aurifer (Walker, 1854), P. matsumurae Lindner, 1936 and P. japonicus (Thunberg, 1789) (= P. tenebrifer (Walker, 1849)). Additionally, an unrecorded species, P. sinchangensis Ôuchi, 1938, is founded in South Korea. We therefore report the species for the first time in Korea with morphological diagnoses and key for the identification of species of the genus. In total, the members of the genus Ptecticus are officially recognized as four species in Korea.

남한산 큰자색호랑꽃무지는 그 동안 일본에 분포하는 Osmoderma opicum으로 동정되어 왔으며, 국내에서는 그 희귀성에 의해 멸종위기종으 로 다루어지고 있지만, 남한 개체군에 대한 면밀한 종의 실체에 대한 구명은 없었다. 이에 대해, 남한산 큰자색호랑꽃무지와 유라시안 근연종에 대 해 형태 및 COI유전자 염기서열을 비교를 실시하였다. 결과적으로, 남한산 개체군은 형태적으로 극동러시아에 분포하는 O. caeleste와 동일하였다. 따라서, 남한산 큰자색호랑꽃무지는 O. caeleste임을 제안한다.

A many researcher suggest that children exhibit a natural interest towards insects, and different intervention programs have shown the presence of an insect being able to increase children’s attentiveness and motivation levels. Nonetheless, few research effort have been devoted to the identification of specific insect characteristics able to attract and engage children. This study was aimed at assessing children’s preference for insect species. Children aged 12 years participated in the study and were tested on a choice task, using pet insect program. Children’s preferences for different species and for effects of sex analyzed. Overall, girls showed a preference for more lepidoptera species like cabbage butterfly and swallowtail butterfly. On the other hand, boys showed a preference for coleoptera insect. Results and their implications for the child-insect bond are discussed.

We investigated the distribution, sex ratio, and natural enemies and nesting competition insects of mason bees, Osmia spp. in 32 apple orchards during 2006 to 2008. The rate of bee nested was 14.0±1.7%. The rate of fauna nested were Osmia spp., 66.0%, natural enemies, 21.7% and nesting competition insects, 11.6%. We collected five species of Osmia spp. consisting of Osmia cornifrons, O. pedicornis, O. taurus, O. satoi and O. jacoti. In case of collected five Osmia spp, O. cornifrons was 69.6%, which was the dominant species and O. pedicornis was 13.0% and O. taurus was 11.2%, respectively. The collecting rate of Osmia spp. was significant difference among each year and 10 locations. The sex ratio of Osmia spp. were 1:1.9 in O. cornifrons, 1:5.1 in O. pedicornis and 1:2.2 in O. taurus. The sex ratio of O. cornifrons was significant difference among each year and 10 locations. Seven species of natural enemies that attack Osmia spp. were collected in apple orchard. Trogoderma and Chaetodactylus showed the highest rates with 48% and 38% among 7 natural enemies. Also, we collected nine species of nesting competition insects. Anterhynchium flavomaginatum showed the highest rates with 38.6% among 9 nesting competition insects.

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.

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.

To improvement the fruit quality of the korean raspberry fruit, 3 species of bee, Bombus terrestris, Apis mellifera and Osmia cornifrons were used for pollination in korean raspberry fruit field from Korea. This study was also conducted using 3 kinds of methods for pollination effect, natural condition, net-house and control method. Blooming time of korean raspberry fruit shows always in the middle of the May, foraging behavior of bees used in this examination showed different tendency each other. Especially pollinating time of B. terrestris was 2.73sec and transfer time between flower was 2.64sec. Rate of korean raspberry fruit setting pollinated with B. terrestris, A. mellifera, O. cornifrons were showed 83.1%, 80.5%, 77.5% respectively. And, rate of fruit setting of the untreated control and the control (natural condition pollination) were 36.2% and 76.0%. Therefore, korean raspberry fruit set in the case of B. terrestris compared control was superior to 230%, 109% in contrast to natural pollination showed, A. mellifera and O. cornifrons were no significant difference over natural pollination. The quality of the products of korean raspberry fruit pollinated with B. terrestris showed the highest quality as a result fruit diameter 19.5±0.85, fruit weight 2.7±0.32, sugar content 11.2±1.48 Brix%, seed no. of 86.8±10.15. The rate of productivity increase using the Bombus terrestris was 21% in contrast to natural pollination.

Bumblebee, Bombus terrestris is widely used to pollinate various crops, especially tomato, in greenhouses. Mason bee, Osmia cornifrons, which is using as apple pollinator. Here we investigated characteristics on pollinating activity of B. terrestris and O. conifrons at different weather conditions in apple orchard. The foraging activity of O. conifrons was more sensitive than that of B. terrestris at weather conditions including temperature, illumination intensity and wind velocity. The pollinating activity of O. conifrons was very low than that of B. terrestris at a low temperature, cloudy, rainy and windy weather. Therefore, Our results indicated that B. terrestris was suitable for apple pollinator than O. conifrons, especially in low temperature and bad weather.

Currently, flies are used to pollinate Welsh onion for seed production. However, the use of flies for pollination has caused problems in Welsh onion seed production due to sanitation issues, smell, and the difficulty of feeding the flies. Therefore, we investigated the effects of pollination with bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), flies (e.g., houseflies, flesh flies, blue bottle flies), mason bees (Osmia cornifrons), honeybees (Apis mellifera) and blowflies (Lucilia illustris) in a small net screen house (2.2m×1.7m×2.5m) for onion seed production. Although the number of flies was about three times than that of other insect pollinators, fies and bumblebees showed equivalent pollination ratios, but the remaining three insect species showed lower values. For the percentage of seed set per umbel, the number of seeds per flower and umbel, bumblebees and flies showed similar results. These results showed that pollination by bumblebees can be used as an alternative approach in breeding Welsh onion. An analysis of the most appropriate colony of bumblebees for use as pollinators for breeding Welsh onion in a small net screen house showed that colony of fifty to eighty bees was the most efficient level. The visiting time on the flower and spending time from a flower to another flower of B. terrestris worker on small net screen house was 2.2 seconds and 1.8 seconds, respectively.

Jeon-Nam province has the largest number of managed honey bee(Apis cerana) colonies before 2009 years ago, which produce the highest quantity of honey in the Korea; however, almost colony were collapsed by Sacbrood Virus(SBV) in jeon-nam apiaries. We thus conducted a molecular survey of honey bee RNA viruses, Nosema microsporidia, Foul broods and fungal disease(Chalk brood and Stone brood) associated with environmental conditions in apiaries and differential A. cerana hives in Joun-nam province. We found the presence of black queen cell virus (BQCV), Israel Acute Paralysis Virus and Nosema apis. Sacbrood virus(SBV) was detected in the tested samples. Our results demonstrate that honey bee RNA viruses and N. apis are present in joen-nam province apiaries, and some might be related environment conditions(temperature and moisture).

Bumblebees are widely used to pollinate various greenhouse crops. Among the different bumblebee species, Bombus ignitus is indigenous to Korea, China, Japan and Russia. B. ignitus undergoes one generation per year, and artificial hibernation is essential for year-round rearing of the bumblebee. Keeping the queens under low-temperature conditions for several months is an effective method for terminating their diapause and promoting colony development. In the present study, we investigated how cold temperature affects the artificial hibernation of B. ignitus queens. Under chilling temperatures of -2.5°C, 0°C, 2.5°C and 5°C with constant humidity >80%, the queens stored at 2.5°C exhibited the highest survival rates, which were 74.0% at one month, 67.0% at two months, 60.0% at three months, 46.0% at 4 months, 33.0% at 5 months and 24.0% at 6 months. Lower survival rates were observed at 0°C, 5°C, 7.5°C and 12.5°C. At 2.5°C the colony developmental characteristics after diapause were 1.2- to 1.5-fold greater than those when queens were stored at 5°C. Thus, 2.5°C and 70% R.H. were the most favorable chilling temperature and humidity conditions for terminating the diapause of B. ignitus queens.

To improvement the fruit quality of the korean raspberry and the blueberry fruit, 3 bee species, Bombus terrestris, Apis mellifera, and Osmia cornifrons were used for pollination. The rates of korean raspberry fruit set in the case of pollination with B. terrestris, A. mellifera, and O. cornifrons were 83.1%, 80.5% and 77.5%, respectively. In addition, the rates of fruit set in the case of the untreated control and the control(pollination under natural conditions) were 36.2% and 76.0%, respectively. The products of korean raspberry fruit pollinated with B. terrestris had the highest quality, with a fruit diameter of 19.5±0.85mm; fruit weight, 2.7±0.32g; sugar content, 11.2±1.48 Brix%; seed no., 86.8±10.15. The rate of productivity increase obtained using the B. terrestris was 21% greater than that obtained using natural pollination. And, the rate of blueberry fruit setting pollinated with B. terrestris, A. mellifera, O. cornifrons were showed 87.7%, 89.6%, 66.5% respectively. And, rate of fruit setting of the untreated control and the control(natural condition pollination) were 15.4% and 80.3%. The rate of productivity increase obtained using the B. terrestris was 9%∼17% greater than that obtained using natural pollination.

Bumblebees are important pollinators of crops and wildflowers in northern temperate regions. The number of bumblebee species has declined in recent decades, particularly, in developing regions. Here, we investigated the distribution and floral preferences of founder bumblebee queens that were collected between 2000 and 2012 in Korea with the intention of gathering information useful in the conservation of native bumblebee populations. A total of 13,130 overwintered bumblebee queens were collected at 63 locations from 8 provinces; the collected bumblebees consisted of five species of native bumblebees (Bombus ardens, B. ignitus, B. hypocrita spporoensis, B. ussurensis and B. consobrinus wittenburgi) and one species of exotic bumblebee (B. terrestris). The dominant species were Bombus ardens Smith and Bombus ignitus Smith, which accounted for 7,462 (56.8%) and 3,725 (28.4%) of the collected bumblebees, respectively. As a proportional distribution of the founder bumblebee queens that were collected, B. ignitus was the most common (9.8%-78.5%), followed by B. ardens (9.8%-66.1%), B. hypocrita spporoensis (0.9%-31.4%), B. ussurensis (0.8%-22.2%), B. consobrinus wittenburgi (0.1%-3.8%) and B. terrestris (0.0%-1.1%). The bumblebee queens foraged from 7 families of plants and 18 plant species. B. ignitus bumblebees were primarily collected from Prunus serrulata Matsumura and Corydalis speciosa Max, and B. ardens bumblebees were primarily collected from Rhodldendron mucronulatum Turcz and Prunus yedoensis.

To substitute for bluebottle fly, Chrysomyia megacephala which is being used for pollinator in mango fruit, and improve the pollinating effect of mango fruit which is also being increased as high value added crop recently in Jeju island of korea, 2 kinds of pollinator were used in analyzing and surveying of foraging activities on mango fruit in Seogwipo province. This study was conducted using 3 species of pollinator, Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Chrysomyia megacephala with 3 treatment in vinyl-house condition respectively. Species of mango fruit, Irwin, was used in this experiment. A number of foraging activity of Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris in hive showed highest 11 AM, and showed normal foraging activity in high temperature condition(28℃). Pollinating ratio of Bombus terrestris was shown 100% and over 95% in case of Apis mellifera. This ratio suggest that the 2 species of insects is effective as pollinator on mango fruit compared with bluebottle fly. Daily pollinating activity of Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris was shown peak in 11 AM, but showed even activity from 9 AM to 3 PM in case of Chrysomyia megacephala. The pollinating characteristics of 3 species depends on illuminance but temperature, especially in case of Bombus terrestris was more affected by change of illuminance. Visiting time of Bombus terrestris and Apis mellifera on this flower was shown 2.8 and 3.4 seconds respectively. But Chrysomyia megacephala showed longer 10 times with 32.5 seconds than other insects. This results suppose that Chrysomyia megacephala showed as resting behavior for almost time on the flower not foraging activity to pollinate.