This taxonomic study on the genus Scutellathous is only recognized a species. S. porrecticollis (Lewis, 1894) in Korea. The previous record of Athous (=Medakathous) jactatus (Lewis, 1984) is revealed as the misientification of S. porrecticollis. We also describe and illustrate Subscutellathous koreanicus gen. and sp. nov. from Korea. This new genus si compared to the most closed genus Scutellathous by the basis of diagnostic characters in generic level.

Three venom peptides, OdVP1, OdVP2, and OdVP3 were isolated from the venom of the solitary wasp Orancistrocerus drewseni (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae). The venom peptide amino acid sequences were determined by Q-TOF/MS/MS. The OdVP1, 2, and 3 with amidated C-terminals showed similar peptide sequences to the mastoparan from Vespula lewisii or the protonectin from Protonectarina sylveirae, suggesting that they adopt an amphipathic α-helix secondary structure. The amidation of C-terminal Leu of the venom peptides have been known to be required for their biological activities. The full-length open reading frame (ORF) sequences of the OdVP1, 2, and 3 were analyzed by 5’- and 3’-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The overall gene structure of OdVPs showed a high homology to that of mastoparan B from Vespa basalis by containing signal sequence, prosequence, mature peptide and C-terminal glycine, but the mature peptide sequences were distinct from each other. The toxicological property and antimicrobial activity of OdVPs were characterized using synthetic peptides. This study on the venom peptides from O. drewseni should promote further studies on bioactive ingredients in the venom of solitary hunting wasps.

Only two species of Eurydema occur in Korea and Japan: E. dominulus (Scopoli, 1763) [= E. pulchra (Westwood, 1837), syn. n.] and E. gebleri Kolenati, 1846 [= E. rugosa Motschulsky, 1861, syn. n.]. In order to prove the above taxonomical change, we focused on three major works (1)morphology, (2)molecular identification and (3)biological experiment (inter-specific copulation, confirmation of fertilization and interbreeding). All the results of these three major works support to confirm new taxonomical change amongst these four species. The inter-specific copulation occurs (E. pulchra_male X E. gebleri_female) in nature, but the eggs from inter-specific copulation are confirmed not to be fertilized as a result of the biological experiment. A new identification key to species occurring in Korea and Japan is presented for the all stages (from eggs to adult).