We introduce a method for preserving yellow mealwom (Tenebrio molitor) larvae for an extended period and show that a high percentage of larvae can survive in good health under low-temperature storage conditions combined with specific diapause termination conditions. When storing larvae for 140 days, the storage temperature can be varied based on our goals, giving us control over yellow mealworm production to meet specific demands. To produce adult beetles, storing larvae at 15 ℃ with wheat bran and ending diapause at 30 ℃ resulted in 90% pupation rate, with 60% becoming adults in 21 days. If our aim is larvae production, storing them at 10–12 ℃ with wheat bran and ending diapause at 25–30 ℃ allows the larvae to reach a suitable weight for processing. This approach ensures long-term storage of yellow mealworm larvae and provides a practical way to control their development, allowing efficient mass production tailored to market demands.

The genus Stenotothorax is reported for the first time in the Korean Peninsula. While working on Korean Aphodiinae, we identified Stenotothorax hibernalis (Nakane & Tsukamoto) from the Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province. This species was found in the northern region of South Korea. A key to Aphodiini genera in Korea, habitus photographs, and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided to facilitate identification.

To assess the accuracy of species delimitation in the genus Aphaenomurus Yosii, we conducted a comparative micro-morphological study and molecular analysis using two mitochondrial (COI, 16S) and two nuclear genes (18S, 28S) on 118 specimens from 24 localities. The results showed that the morphological characters of A. vicinus and A. interpositus, as presented in the original description, were intermixed in phylogenetic lineages within the genus and did not form independent lineages. Furthermore, there were enough differences among Aphaenomurus individuals to be considered as morphologically distinct species (Th. III is 1+1 or 2+2, Abd. I is 2+2 or 3+3, Abd. II is 2+2 or 3+3), but they do not form an independent lineage. Molecular and morphological analyses have determined that A. vicinus and A. interpositus are the same species, exhibiting morphological variation in dental spines formula, claws, chaetotaxy, and other features. Additionally, the genus Aphaenomurus forms a monophyletic clade, which is further divided into several lineages within the genus. No morphological differences were observed to distinguish these lineages. This cladistic divergence is attributed to heteroplasmy, which is supported by previous studies that have suggested the possibility and problems of heteroplasmy in Collembola, and by the high genetic distances between individuals in the mitochondrial genes of Aphaenomurus.

A taxonomic study of Korean Psammodiini is present. Seven species [Rakovicius coreanus (Kim), Leiopsammodius japonicus (Harold), Psammodius flavolittoralis Kim, Psammodius hangangensis Kim, Psammodius sungshinarum Kim, Rhyssemus inscitus (Walker), Trichiorhyssemus asperulus (Waterhouse)] belonging to five genera are recognized based on morphological characters. A pictorial key, habitus photographs and illustrations of the diagnostic characters of Korean Psammodiini species are provided to facilitate identification.

The insect industry in Korea is currently undergoing steady expansion. Among the various insects kept as pets or for educational purposes, four mantis species, including Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville), Tenodera sinensis Saussure, Tenodera angustipennis Saussure, and Statilia maculata (Thunberg), are becoming increasingly popular, leading to higher demand. As we aimed to raise mantises, we collected oothecae, some of which were found to be parasitized by dermestid beetles. These parasitoids have been unequivocally identified as Thaumaglossa rufocapillata Redtenbacher based on morphological characters. A diagnosis, habitus photographs, and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided to facilitate identification. We also present the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of T. rufocapillata for providing fundamental data for research aimed at controlling pests in the insect industry.

흰점박이꽃무지[Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe)]의 적정 사육 밀도를 구명하기 위해 상대적으로 발육기간이 긴 3령 유충을 대상으로 밀도 실험을 수행하였다. 3령 유충기부터 번데기까지의 발육기간과 3령 유충부터 성충까지의 발육기간은 모두 30마리 밀도에서 가장 짧았다. 하지만, 번데기에서 성충까지 걸리는 시간은 유의미한 차이가 없었다. 성충의 외형적 특성도 밀도 간 통계적으로 유의미한 차이가 나타났는데, 그중 20마리 밀도 조건에서 사육된 성충은 무게와 체장, 체폭이 가장 우량하였다. 암수의 외형적 특성 차이는 주로 20마리 조건에서 유의미하게 나타났다. 암컷은 밀도 조건에 영향을 받지 않았지만, 수컷의 경우는 모든 외형적 특성에서 밀도에 영향을 받는 것으로 분석되었으며, 특히 20마리 조건은 다른 조건보다 성충의 크기가 큰 것을 확인하였다. 결론적으로, 흰점박이꽃무지의 3령 유충은 3L 사육상자에 30마리 밀도 조건으로 사육하는 것이 효율적이며, 이를 통해 3령에서 성충까지의 발육기간을 단축할 수 있고, 사료 비용도 절감할 수 있다.

본 연구에서는 정서곤충을 이용한 치유프로그램 활동이 지역아동센터를 이용하는 아동 43명의 스트레스에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 치유 프로그램에 이용된 정서곤충은 누에나방[Bombyx mori (Linnaeus)]이다. 스트레스의 정도는 타액 ɑ-아밀라아제 검사를 통해 측정하였다. 스트레 스 수치를 평가하기 위한 타액 샘플 채취와 곤충 선호도에 대한 설문지는 곤충치유활동에 참여하기 전과 후에 측정되었고, 활동을 모두 마친 후에는 치유프로그램 참여 경험에 대한 만족도 점수를 평가하였다. 분석 결과, 곤충치유프로그램 활동은 참여 아동의 타액 ɑ-아밀라아제 수치를 통계적으 로 낮추고, 곤충에 대한 선호도를 높여준다는 결과를 확인하였다. 누에를 이용한 치유프로그램 활동에 참가한 아동들의 만족도는 5점 만점에 4.23 점이었다.