The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of environmental temperature and backfat thickness (BT) on the reproductive performance of lactating sows. Sixty crossbred sows were allotted to four groups in a 2×2 factorial arrangement by environmental temperature (high temperature [HT], 27.5±1.76℃; low temperature [LT], 23.3±0.89℃) and BT (<20 mm, average 17.70 mm; ≥20 mm, average 23.20 mm) from July to August 2019. Sows in the HT group experienced a greater change in BT and a lower feed intake. Losses in body weight and BT were lower in sows with <20 mm BT than in those with ≥20 mm BT. Sows with low BT had a lower weaning-to-estrus interval than sows with high BT (5.20, 4.93 d vs. 5.87, 5.60 d, respectively). Piglet survivability was lower in the HT group (90.31%) than in the LT group (94.87%). Piglet weaning weight and average daily weight gain were greater in sows with <20 mm BT (5.75 kg and 201.46 g, respectively) than in those with ≥20 mm BT (5.49 kg and 188.41 g, respectively). Sows in the HT group had higher cortisol concentrations than those in the LT group (post-farrowing: HT 7.86 μg/mL vs. LT 6.04 μg/mL; weanling: HT 5.48 μg/mL vs. LT 4.40 μg/mL). In conclusion, environmental temperature adversely influenced sow performance and cortisol levels. Moreover, sows with low BT had a greater weaning-to-estrus interval when subjected to heat stress.

This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of single and combination use of N. californicus and N. womersleyi for control of Tetranychus urticae. The experiment was conducted with 5 replications in kidney bean leaf disc (2.5cm diameter) at 25℃, 60-70% RH, a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The inoculation ratio was 5:1 for T. urticae:pytoseiidae mite and treatments are: a, N. californicus:T. urticae (4 adult female:20 adult female) b, N. womersleyi:T. urticae (4:20) c, (N. californicus+N. womersleyi):T. urticae ((2+2):20) d, Only T. ulticae (20). T. urticae population became significantly lower in the treatment plots than in the control plot but the higher egg number of T. urticae was observed in the treatment "b" plot than in "a" and "c" plots. In the "c" plot, lower number of N. womersleyi was observed than N. californicus. The result indicates that single use of N. californicus and combination use of N. californicus and N. womersleyi were more effective than single use of N. womersleyi but, there was no significantly difference between single use of N. californicus and combination use of N. californicus and N. womersleyi for control of T. urticae. Also, N. californicus appears to interfere or outcompete N. womersleyi.

This study was conducted to determine whether trichome density affects the oviposition behavior of adult female Tetranychus urticae Koch on host plant leaves. Experiments were conducted with twenty replications on the leaf discs of each plant (Pear, 'Niitaka'; Apple, 'Fuji'; Strawberry, 'Meahyang'; 3cm diameter) at 25℃, 60-70% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. One female T. urticae was placed on each disc. The number and locations of laid eggs were recorded at 24 h intervals until T. urticae died. The trichomes were distributed along the midrib of abaxial surface of pear leaves but were evenly distributed on that of apple and strawberry leaves. Eggs were mostly laid along the midrib of pear leaf disc, but eggs were laid not only along the midrib but also randomly over the leaf disc of apple and strawberry. Therefore, it appeared that T. urticae preferred to lay eggs on the specific location where trichomes were densely distributed. Further study is needed to quantify how different distribution patterns of T. urticae eggs on different plant leaves affect the efficacy of predatory mites to control T. urticae.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effective inoculation position of Neoseiulus californicus for control of Tetranychus urticae on apple branch. This study was conducted under green house conditions. N. californicus was inoculated at different position (Top, Middle and Bottom) of apple branch with a 20:1 ratio (T. urticae:N. californicus). Overall, N. californicus significantly reduced T. urticae numbers in the treatment branches than in the control branch. At 10th day, the T. urticae population was most significantly reduced in the treatment ‘Top’ in which N. californicus were inoculated on the leaf positioned in the top of a branch than in other treatments. At 20th day, most of T. urticae were exterminated in all treatment branches. The daily movement of N. californicus and T. urticae,and their coexistence on apple branch was monitored. Adult N. californicus disappeared from the branch as soon as T. urticae were exterminated in the treatment branches. The result indicates that N. californicus disperse downwards more than upwards in the tree, and the most effective inoculation position for N. californicus for control of T. urticae is the leaves positioned in the top of a branch.

The developmental time and survival of immature stages of N. californicus were studied under laboratory conditions at nine constant temperatures (12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 38, 40℃), 60-70% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. The total developmental period decreased with increasing temperature between 12 and 32℃, and increased beyond 32℃. Total developmental period of immature stages was longest at 12℃ (18.38 days) and shortest at 32℃ (2.98 days). The cumulative mortality of N. californicus was lowest at 24℃ (4.5%) and highest at 38℃ (15.2%). The normalized cumulative frequency distribution of developmental times for each life stage was fitted to the three-parameter Weibull function (r2=0.91~0.93). The relationship between temperature and developmental rate was fitted by five nonlinear development rate models (Logan 6, Lactin 1, 2, and Briere 1,2). The nonlinear shape of temperature development was best described by the Lactin 1 model (r2=0.98). The determined lower developmental temperature thresholds could be used to predict the occurrence, number of generation and population dynamics of N.californicus on fruit orchards and greenhouse