The walking-stick insects, Ramulus mikado, are outbreaks in several mountainous areas from 2020 to 2022. In recent, some population of the insect are showed rapidly decline in their abundance, while some of them are still maintained high population density. In worldwide, insects belonging to Phasmida are reported to outbreak in their habitats as mentioned above environments, but knowledge about outbreak pattern of the walking-stick insects is still lacking. In this study, we aimed which biological and environmental factors are related to wax and wane of the insect population. From 2022 to 2023, we studied host tree preferences in natural conditions, ecological stoichiometry in major host trees, overwintering ecology of R. mikado eggs, and infection rate by entomophathogenic fungi during growing season.

해충의 예찰 없이 작물 정식 초기에 천적을 먼저 적용할 수 있는 천적-서식처 혼합적용(Natural Enemy in First; NEF)기법의 방제효과를 확인하였다. 시설 딸기에서 조사 12주차에 NEF처리구와 천적 단독 처리구에서 친환경자재 처리구 대비 각 83%, 70%의 점박이응애 밀도 억제효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 예찰 없이 작물 정식 초기에 NEF를 적용한 처리구에서 천적 단독 처리구보다 3배 이상의 높은 천적 밀도를 확인하였다.

Biological control is becoming an increasingly important part of integrated pest management programs in Korea. For this reason, effective and sustainable insect pest management is a priority for many growers. And the success of biological control depends upon the use of the economical methods such as a combination of proper natural enemies and plants (banker, habitat, trap, companion, etc.). For the last nine years, we have developed simple and reliable new habitat plants system with natural enemies, and named it『Natural Enemy in First Method』that we are introducing here. Our goal was to better understand the potential for effective use of beneficial insects and their habitat plants for the management of thrips, spider mites, and aphids in greenhouses. This approach is being developed to improve biological control in various crops in Korea.

본 연구는 지속가능한 유기농업의 실천을 위하여 국내 작부체계와 농업환경에 적합한 한국형 현장적용 기법을 구축하고자 수행하였다. 본 연구의 기본 개념은 ‘Natural Enemy in First (NE가 먼저)’로 해충발생시기의 예찰 없이 주 작물을 정식함과 동시에 천적과 보조식물을 혼합 적용해서 해충발생 이전에 천적을 포장에 먼저 정착시키는 생물적 방제기법이다. 시설재배 딸기에서 칠레이리응애, 사막이리응애, 콜레마니진디벌과 천적의 서식처 3종을 주 작물의 정식과 동시에 적용한 결과, 관행방제구에 비해 80%이상의 해충 밀도억제효과를, 천적 단독처리구에 비해 3배 이상의 높은 천적의 밀도를 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 포장 환경과 천적의 방사방법에 구애받지 않고 천적의 해충 방제효과를 극대화시킬 수 있는 라인을 적용한 결과, 약제와 천적 혼합처리구에서 라인을 적용하지 않은 처리구에 비해 해충의 밀도가 급격히 감소하고, 천적의 밀도는 2배 이상 높게 유지되는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

Morphology of antennal sensilla and their distribution were investigated in male and female adults of Plautia stali,a major pest of tree fruits, using scanning electron microscopy. Antennae of P. stali was composed of a scape, a pediceland three flagella in both sexes. Four types of sensilla (s. trichodea, s. basiconica, s. chaetica, s. coeloconica) were identifiedfrom both sexes. Among them, s. trichodea and s. basiconica were multiporous, others are not. They distributed in varyingnumbers. Sexual dimorphism was not shown in the distribution of the four sensilla types. But their distribution was characterizedalong antennal segments in both sexes. This study will be useful in electrophysiological and behavioral studies on theolfactory sensory function of each morphological type of sensilla.

The objective of this study was to determine the anti-diabetic effect of the water extract of Neolentinus lepideus in a diabetic mouse model. Seven-week-old C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice were fed either a control diet (CD) or diet supplemented with 1% or 5% of N. lepideus water extract (NLWE1 or NLWE5) for 10 weeks. Oral administration of NLWE significantly decreased the body weight gain compared to that of CD-fed group. Mice in the NLWE group had significantly lower levels of fasting serum glucose, fatty acids, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to those in the control group. These effects were accompanied by reduced fatty liver and improved glucose tolerance in the NLWE group. Taken together, these results suggest that N. lepideus might have potential as a dietary supplement to control diabetes.

Morphology of antennal sensilla and their distribution were investigated in male and female adults of Ooencyrtus nezarae, an egg parasitoid of Riptortus pedestris, using scanning electron microscopy. Antennae of O. nezarae was composed of scape, pedicel and seven flagella in both sexes. Six types of sensilla (s. trichodea, s. basiconica, s. chaetica, s. campaniformia, s. sickle-shaped and unknown s.) were identified from both sexes. Among them, s. trichodea and s. sickle-shaped were multiporous, others are not. They distributed in varying numbers. Sexual dimorphism was clearly observed in the distribution of s. trichodea (only on male antennae) and unknown sensilla (only on female antennae). These findings would be helpful for further studies on detailed sex specific-receptive functions of each antennal sensilla.

Euzophera batangensis (Lepidotera: Pyralidae) is seriously damaging trunks or branches of persimmon tree (Diospyros sp.). We tested the attractiveness of (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-ol (Z9-14OH) and (Z9,E12)-tetradeca- 9,12-dien-1-ol (Z9,E12-14OH) with single or blended baits at southern parts of Korea in 2014 and 2015. The monoene was not attractive at all at three places during the two years. In 2014, diene was equally or more attractive than the mixture in Jinju and Suncheon, respectively. In 2015 too, the attractiveness of diene and mixture was not different in Jinju and Munsan. Monitoring of the seasonal occurrence of E. batangesis with the sex pheromone components revealed that it occurred three times a year; the first occurrence from early April to mid May, the second from early Jun to mid July, and the third from late August to late September.

This study was conducted from October 2014 to May 2015 to explore forage production and feed values of Italian ryegrass, Rye and whole crop barley as winter forage crops in the Southern region of Korea. The experimental location was over 10 points for each species and each sampling point area was 1 m² (Width: 1 m × Length: 1 m). Air mean temperature and rainfall in the Southern region of Korea during the experimental period was 6.95 ± 5.75℃ and 70.45 ± 54.68 mm, respectively. Fresh forage yield of Italian ryegrass, the most cultivated forage in the Southern region of Korea, was 44.4 ± 7.0 ton/ha. The percentage of dry matter for whole crop barley was 28.9 ± 7.0%. Crude protein (CP) was higher in Italian ryegrass (10.7 ± 5.3%) while total digestible nutrient (TDN) had the highest value in whole crop barley. Crude protein was not significantly different by location. However, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total digestible nutrient value of forage from Jeonbuk province were higher than in forage from Gyeongnam province.

Insect and natural enemy fauna were surveyed at conventional (CV) and organic-farming persimmon orchards (OF) at Jinju, Korea, using sweeping net and naked eyes in 2013 and 2014. Using sweeping net, 49 species at an OF and 18 species at a CV were observed in 2013. In 2014 too, more species were observed at OF (66 species, 33 families, 7 orders) than at a CV (25 species, 15 families, 5 orders). During both the years, dominant species were all hemipteran insects like Nysius plebejus (Lygaeidae) and Cletus punctiger (Coreidae) in both types of orchards, followed by Rhopalus maculatus (Rhopalidae), Riptortus pedestris (Alydidae). Similarly, naked eye inspection also found more species at OF (192 species, 72 families, 11 orders) than at CV (104 species, 52 families, 10 orders) in 2014. Dominant species in naked eye inspection were Lycorma emelianovi (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Uroleucon cephalonopli (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at OF, and A. mellifera and R. maculatus at CV in 2014. Using naked eye inspection or sweeping net in 2014, more species of natural enemies were observed at OF (31 and 9 species, respectively) than at CV (18 and 5 species, respectively).