Pelle, a serine/threonine kinase, is an intracellular component of the Toll pathway and is involved in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production due to pathogenic infection. It is known that the Pelle phosphorylates Cactus and activates the NF-κB signaling pathway in Drosophila, but it is not studied in Tenebrio molitor. In this study we investigated the tissue-specific expression patterns of the Pelle following pathogenic infection at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours. Additionally, larval mortality and AMP expression against microbial injection were investigated in dsPelle-treated T. molitor larvae. Our results may help to understand the antimicrobial function of TmPelle.

생태계내에서 중요한 수분매개체인 야생벌을 보전하기 위해서는 풍부도와 다양성을 모니터링 하는 것이 중 요하다. 충청남도 서천군의 마을숲에서 야생벌을 2년간 조사한 결과 총 9과 57종 3,258개체를 채집하였다. 우점 종은 애꽃벌과의 꼬마애꽃벌이 가장 많았으며, 다음으로 양봉꿀벌, 수염줄벌, 구리꼬마꽃벌이었다. 종수는 2월 부터 증가하다가 8월에 가장 많았으며, 개체수는 4월에 가장 많고 이후 줄어들었다. 야생벌의 종 목록 살펴보면, 꿀벌과가 16종으로 가장 많았으며, 애꽃벌과의 꼬마애꽃벌은 1종이지만 개체수는 2,084개체로 본 연구에서 가 장 많이 나타났다. 본 연구에서 조사된 결과는 향후 기후변화로 인한 수분매개 곤충의 영향을 파악하는데 유용하 게 쓰일 것이다.

The genus Peromitra Enderlein is a small group of phorid flies, including two European parasitic species known to parasitize larval bibionid flies. In this study, specimens of the Peromitra species collected from South Korea are examined morphologically on the basis of characteristics on ocellar region, leg chaetotaxy and hypopygium. As a result, four species are described new to science and two species, viz. P. fimbriata and P. multisetalis are newly recorded from South Korea. Photographs of diagnostic characters and a key to males of South Korean species are provided.

The genus Priopoda is a small group of the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae, comprising 22 species from worldwide, 10 species from the Eastern Palaearctic and 13 species from the Oriental region. This species and genus are report for the first time from South Korea. The Ctenopelmatinae comprises one of the two major radiations of parasitoids of sawflies. The approximately 1,350 species have been reported in 105 genera and nine tribes. In this study, diagnoses and photos of four unrecorded species from South Korea are provided.

Division of the risk management, APQA(Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency) is conducting the IRA(Import Risk Assessment) to prevent the introduction of pests when importing foreign agricultural products. In the 2023 IRA, 55 cases of 19 items from 23 countries was analyzed, and fresh avocado(variety: HASS) from the Philippines was concluded in September 2023 and can be imported in accordance with appropriate phytosanitary measures. The main issue in the IRA of fresh avocado fruits from the Philippines was whether HASS variety avocados were host plants of Bactrocera dorsalis. As a result of the risk analysis, B. dorsalis were included in the pest list that needs to be managed by special risk management. As a risk management for B. dorsalis, one trap using methyl-eugenol is installed per 20 ha once a week. After surveying, if the population is more than 2/trap/day, control measures such as adding traps and spraying pesticides are necessary. As equivalence, regionalization, and transparency have been strengthened with the recent entry into force of the mega FTA, a higher level of scientific basis is required. Accordingly, division of the risk management, APQA is working harder to improve its expertise, and we need your cooperation and attention of the IRAs.

The genus Trichophysetis is one of the taxa that has recently undergone frequent changes in its taxonomic position. Only four species have been recorded in Korea, including synonymized Hendecasis species. Recent studies on the taxonomic classification of Trichophysetis have not addressed any species inhabiting Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a renewed morphological analysis of Korean species. In this study, we compare and analyze four Korean Trichophysetis species with one newly recorded species.

The genus Trichophysetis is one of the taxa that has recently undergone frequent changes in its taxonomic position. Only four species have been recorded in Korea, including synonymized Hendecasis species. Recent studies on the taxonomic classification of Trichophysetis have not addressed any species inhabiting Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a renewed morphological analysis of Korean species. In this study, we compare and analyze four Korean Trichophysetis species with one newly recorded species.

The purpose of this study is to select various insect species for healing resources and develop a healing program in order to use insect as a healing agriculture. In this study, there are two kinds of breeding kit were developed, one for Gryllus bimaculatus and the other for Oxya chinensis sinuosa. Using these insect breeding kits, we conducted a survey of 60 children and the elderly. In the case of children, the results of the insect breeding satisfaction showed that 30.6% said that the sound of crickets was very good, and 11.1% said that it was good. In addition, the higher the child's awareness of insects, the higher the proportion of children who wanted to raise insects in the future. As a result of a survey of seniors, 45.2% do not like insects and 51.6% are not interested, meaning that most seniors are not very interested in insects. However, the emotions after breeding insects showed positive results, with 45.2% saying their personality became brighter, 48.4% reducing their anger, 48.4% relieving their irritation, 54.8% relieving loneliness, 58.1% feeling more responsible, and 51.6% developing intimacy.

A taxonomic study was conducted on Spilonota Stephens, 1834 in Korea. As a result of the research based on materials from Incheon National University two new species; S. samseong Choi, Bae & Nasu, and S. laticucullusa Choi, Bae & Nasu from Korea. This study provides a brief description of the new Spilonota species in Korea, as well as comparisons with similar species and illustrations of adult and genital morphology.

The genus Vespa consists of 22 species worldwide, and their phylogenetic relationships are well established through adult morphology and molecular analyses. However, taxonomic studies of larvae are lacking. In this study, we provided descriptions and taxonomic keys for eight species of Korean Vespa larvae.

Flower chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) are globally distributed, comprising approximately 4,000 described species. They primarily feed on nectar and sap of deciduous trees. The larvae exhibit the unique characteristic of crawling on their backs, distinguishing them from other scarabs. Additionally, the majority of flower chafers fly with their elytra closed, unlike other scarabs that fly with fully opened wings. Šípek et al. (2016) conducted the first molecular phylogenetic study to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and characters of elytra related to the flight mode. Building upon this study, we infer the diversification times and rates of Cetoniinae and its subgroups, and reconstruct the evolutionary process of flight mode transformation. Furthermore, we discuss the current limitations and future directions of this topic.

This research explores the complex interdependencies and dynamic interactions governing the adaptation of species co-evolving within the framework of Eco-Evo-Neuro-Devo, using the fascinating fig-wasp mutualism as a model system. Figs, which have many flowers blooming inside the fruit, are completely dependent on fig wasps as pollinators. The fig-wasp mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where fig trees provide a habitat and food source for specific wasp species, while the wasps, in turn, facilitate pollination and seed dispersal for the fig tree. The fig wasp is born and grows inside the fig fruit and becomes an adult. After mating, the female fig wasp is covered with pollen and enters another fruit, pollinates it and lays eggs there. In addition to the fig-wasp mutualism, additional interactions among hyperparasitic wasps, called non-pollinating fig wasp (NPFW), and flies, nematodes are frequently observed, shaping the co-evolution of the symbionts in the fig community. This study aims to identify the symbionts that make up the symbiotic system, their ecological interactions and genome evolution, and build a model to explore the mechanisms of symbiotic evolution at the molecular level. Sampling and identifying figs and fig-related insects through fieldwork in Korea, various techniques including GC-MS, in situ staining, electrophysiology, and diverse omics tools including WGS, RNA-seq will be implemented to investigate how chemical ecologies of the fig community shape the chemosensory systems of species. Additionally, we will build a cross-platform with Drosophila to narrow the distance between model species and non-model species, facilitating comparative studies across different model organism systems.

Over four years (2020–2023), 305 traps were strategically placed across South Korea to collect data on Vespidae species. Our findings showed that Vespula flaviceps, Vespa crabro, and Vespula koreensis were the most frequently encountered species. Vespa velutina was also widespread, suggesting its successful integration into local ecosystems. The ARL analysis, using the “apriori” algorithm, identified significant co-occurrence patterns and potential interactions. The rules generated indicated both competitive and coexistent relationships with varying levels of association strength across different regions. Clustering analyses, including hierarchical and k-means clustering, grouped species based on their occurrence similarities. The distinct clusters formed in the analysis highlighted the unique ecological roles and interactions of V. velutina and other Vespidae species in South Korean ecosystems.

The series compounds from natural products are an effective repellent and deterrent against various kinds of pests. In this study, we evaluated the spatial repellency of fifteen compounds from natural products on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), in the laboratory and field by using two-choice and no-choice bioassays. In laboratory two-choice tests, six compounds displayed active spatial repellency against female adult mites at a 2mg dose. The repellency of each compound was also as effective as the 6-compound blend. Three of the six compounds showed the predominant repellent activity (over 90%) that lasted for at least 3 days in laboratory no-choice tests. In a field test, we found that the number of T. urticae was fewer in strawberry seeding treated lure with 2mg of these compounds than in strawberry seeding treated lure with solvent control. Given that the findings are efficacious, economical, and natural products, they can be used in the sustainable management of T. urticae in greenhouse.