This study introduces a cost-effective electrochemical exfoliation technique for producing highly crystalline graphene from graphite. By optimizing key exfoliation parameters, including voltage, electrolyte concentration, and temperature, the efficiency of the exfoliation process and the quality of the resulting graphene were significantly improved. To further enhance crystallinity, minimize defect sites, and achieve superior material properties, the as-prepared electrochemically exfoliated graphene (AeEG) underwent post-heat treatment at temperatures ranging from 1500 to 2950 °C. When employed as a conductive additive, eEGs heat-treated at 1800 °C or higher significantly improved both cycle stability and rate performance in LIB coin cells, while maintaining a discharge capacity approximately 10–12 mAh/g higher than that of the control, which utilized Super P. The enhanced performance is attributed to the formation of an efficient conductive network and superior electron transport properties, driven by the high crystallinity and large aspect ratios of the heat-treated eEGs. These findings highlight the potential of eEG as a highly effective conductive additive for advanced battery industries, offering significant improvements in energy storage performance, specific capacity, and rate characteristics.

The spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), can feed on more than 70 species of insects including immature stages of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. P. maculiventris is native to North America and there was an attempt and failure to import P. maculiventris to South Korea in 1970s. Recently, P. maculiventris was successfully re-introduced to South Korea and is being contained and reared in a quarantined facility at the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, South Korea. In this presentation, we will introduce this new biological control agent targeting major lepidopteran and coleopteran pests in agriculture and forest. In addition, current research on mass rearing and aerial release of P. maculiventris using drones will be presented.

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive insect pest from Eastern Asia. Since its invasion into North America during the late 1990s, frequent outbreaks of BMSB have caused considerable economic damage to orchards, field crops, and vegetables. Currently, management practices in the United States rely on insecticides to control BMSB. Therefore, identification of potential natural enemies of BMSB is crucial to justify integrated pest management (IPM). We investigated the viability of using the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), as a potential biological control agent for BMSB. In this study, we used choice and non-choice tests to determine which life stages of the spined soldier bug can effectively kill specific stages of BMSB using videography. Prey searching and feeding behavior of the spined soldier bug and defensive behavior of BMSB were analyzed. Our study showed that BMSB eggs and nymphs attacked by the spined soldier bug had a mortality rate of 100%. We also observed that all first instar BMSB remained on the egg cluster allowing the spined soldier bug to attack and kill many BMSB during one feeding session. The results indicate that the spined soldier bug has the potential for killing BMSB