In the present study, the 17,694-bp long complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the dwarf honey bee, Apis florea (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is described with an emphasis on the noteworthy triplicated tRNAser(AGN) region and an extraordinary long A+T-rich region with repeat regions. The gene arrangement of A. florea mitogenome is identical to that of A. mellifera, but has triplicated tRNASer(AGN), each of which contains the precedent 44 bp-long and following another 64 bp-long repeats plus one complete first repeat abutting to tRNAMet. A total of 1,610-bp long two repeat regions in 1,987 bp-long A+T-rich region is composed of nearly identical 141 ~ 219-bp long five tandem repeats and 50 ~ 52-bp long 12 tandem repeats that are encompassed by three non-repeat sequences. One of the common interpretations for such repeat sequence is slipped-strand mispairing and unequal crossing-over events during DNA replication.

Worldwide studies on Apis cerana variation for biogeography and genetic diversity depended largely on a 86~93 bp-long mitochondrial non-coding region (internal spacer region) located between tRNALeu and COII (named as NC2), possibly due to higher variability among available markers. In order to incorporate the A. cerana occurring in South Korea into world extensive data, we also sequenced the NC2 from 118 A. cerana samples collected over nine Korean localities and 66 A. cerana samples over seven Asian localities, such as China, Vietnam, and Thailand. These data were combined with preexisting world data to scrutinize genetic relationships of A. cerana in South Korea to outside distributional range. Sequencing of 184 samples provided a total of ten haplotypes: five from Korea, six from China, one from Vietnam, and two from Thailand. Among them eight were new, whereas two were previously reported ones. Phylogenetic analysis of A. cerana NC2 haplotypes so far found including ours has confirmed the presence of four major groups of A. cerana (Asian mainland group, Sundaland group, Palawan group, and Luzon-Mindahnao group) and all haplotypes found in this study also were included in the Asian mainland group. In order to find further variable regions that can be used as sequence-based marker several mitochondrial non-coding regions and nuclear intron regions are in the middle of testing.

The bumblebee, Bombus ignitus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is a valuable natural resource that is one of the most notably utilized for greenhouse pollination in Korea. In order to understand the nature of genetic relationships, gene flow, and population structure of the species we sequenced a partial COI gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) corresponding to “animal barcode” region and the complete internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) collected from Korean localities. Although the 658-bp long mtDNA sequence provided only six haplotypes with the maximum sequence divergence of 0.61% (4 bp), the ITS sequences provided 84 sequence types with the maximum sequence divergence of 1.02% (21 sites), confirming better applicability of the ITS sequences to the study of intraspecific variation. The complete ITS2 sequences of B. ignitus were shown to be longest among known insects, ranging in size from 2,034 bp ~ 2,052 bp, harboring two duplicated repeats. Overall, a very high per generation migration ratio, a very low level of genetic fixation, and no discernable hierarchical population/ population group were noted to exist among populations of B. ignitus on the basis of both molecules, thus suggesting that the B. ignitus populations on the Korean peninsula are panmictic, which is consistent with our understanding of the dispersal capability of the species

The bumblebee, Bombus ignitus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is a valuable natural resource that is one of the most notably utilized for greenhouse pollination in Korea. In order to understand the nature of genetic relationships, gene flow, and population structure of the species we sequenced a partial COI gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) corresponding to “animal barcode” region and the complete internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) with the individuals collected from Korean localities. Although the 658-bp long mtDNA sequence provided only six haplotypes with the maximum sequence divergence of 0.456% (3 bp, from 91 individuals), but the ITS sequences provided 33 sequence types with the maximum sequence divergence of 0.78% (16 bp, from 35 individuals), confirming better applicability of the ITS sequences to the study of intraspecific variation. The ITS2 sequences of B. ignitus were shown to be the longest among known insects, ranging in size from 2,034 bp ~ 2,045 bp and harbored two duplicated repeats, indicating unusual structure of B. ignitus ITS2 sequences compared with other insect ITS sequences. Overall, a very high per generation migration ratio, a very low level of genetic fixation, and no discernable hierarchical population/population group were noted to exist among populations of B. ignitus on the basis of both molecules, thus suggesting that the B. ignitus populations on the Korean peninsula are panmictic, which is consistent with our understanding of the dispersal capability.

The bumblebees, Bombus species are valuable natural resources being utilized for greenhouse pollination. Low level of genetic variation of Bombus species has been reported previously. In this study, we sequenced complete internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the nuclear rDNA from 100 individuals of B. ardens collected from seven localities in Korean peninsula. The ITS2 sequence of B. ardens is longest, ranging in size from 1,940 bp-1,954 bp among known in insects, which ranges approximately from 241 bp-1,728 bp. The ITS2 sequences have ~51% of C+C content and contain each two 27 bp repeats, 20 bp repeats, 33 bp repeats, and 34 bp repeats at the beginning. Such repeats were not found in other insects. Uncorrected pairwise distance among 96 sequences that were obtained from 100 individuals revealed a maximum sequence divergence of 1.03%. Genetic diversity (π) of each population ranged from 0.007801 to 0.009627, and the lowest diversity was obtained from islet population of Ulleungdo, indicating possibly small, isolation of the population. Significant level of genetic distance was only found when Ulleungdo population was compared to two other mainland populations. Except for this, overall, a very high rate of per generation migration ratio (Nm=7.1-infinite) and a very low level of genetic fixation (FST=0-0.06546) were detected between pairs of localities. Analysis of hierarchical relationships among localities consistently revealed no statistically significant structure among populations. Taken these together, the B. ardens populations on the Korean peninsula are panmictic this is consistent with our understanding of the dispersal capability.

The bumblebee, Bombus ardens, is a valuable natural resource, and is most notably utilized for greenhouse pollination. In order to gain a greater understanding of the population genetic structure and the genetic diversity of this species, we sequenced a portion of the mitochondrial COI gene corresponding to the “DNA Barcode” region (658 bp) from 160 individuals collected over 15 Korean localities. Uncorrected pairwise distances among the eight haplotypes suggested low intraspecific genetic diversity, with a maximum sequence divergence of 0.3%. Such a low level of intraspecific genetic diversity was further reflected in local populations, particularly to islet populations, such as those of Youngheungdo, Jakyakdo, and Ulleugdo, which had zero genetic diversity. Geographically, one haplotype (BARBA01) was widespread and dominant, with a frequency of 90.6% (145 among 160 individuals). Other haplotypes were restricted to one to three localities and had low frequency. Overall, a very high rate of per generation female migration ratio (Nm= 4.6 to infinite) and a very low level of genetic fixation (FST= 0 to 0.099) were detected between pairs of localities, suggesting that the B. ardens population sonthe Korean peninsula are panmictic, which is consistent with our understanding of their dispersal capability.

To understand geographic genetic variation of the species and relationships among populations of the bumble bee, Bombus ardens, that is utilized as green house pollinator we expanded our investigation by sequencing somewhat longer mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragment, covering some uninvestigated regions within the species distribution, and analyzing the sequence data in terms of population genetic structure. For the purpose of study, a portion of mitochondrial COI gene, corresponding to "DNA Barcode" region (658 bp) was sequenced from 160 individuals of B. ardens collected over 15 localities in Korea. The sequence data revealed overall relatively low genetic diversity within species, with a maximum sequence divergence of 0.3%. Geographically, one haplotype (BARBA01) was found in all localities surveyed, with the frequency of 91% (145 among 160 individuals), whereas other haplotypes were found in a locality mostly as a single individual, suggesting that haplotype distribution can be summarized as coexistence of widespread, one dominant haplotype and regionally restricted, other haplotypes. Overall, very high rate of per generation female migration (Nm = 4.6 ~ infinite) and very low level of geographic substitution (FST = 0 ~ 0.099) among localities were characteristic. Although some populations were genetically subdivided from the remaining localities in the hierarchical analysis, there was regional polarity on this subdivision. Taken together with gene flow estimates, the nature of genetic divergence of the bumble bee populations is characterized as one that possessing low genetic diversity, high gene flow, and wide spread of one dominant haplotype, consistent with the previous finding. To have further detailed information of this valuable genetic resource, further longer and variable molecular portion is under investigating.

This study was surveyed the effects by pollinating activity of Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris released in the paprika vinyl-houses. The foraging activity and behaviour of A. mellifera and B. terrestris visited on the paprika flowers were nearly alike. The pick times of pollinating activity by A. mellifera and B. terrestris were showed the hightest at 11:00 and 15:00, and 09:00 to 11:00, respectively. The rate of fruit set by A. mellifera and B. terrestris released for pollinating paprika were same level with 94%, and these rate were higher than the fruit setting rate which was 92% by fan operated. The qualities of paprika produced by pollinators released were higher than those by fan operated. And weight per fruit, number of seeds per fruit and economical profit per 2,310 ㎡ were over 10% higher than those by fan operated. Therefore the economical effects by the pollinating activities of A. mellifera and B. terrestris released in the paprika vinyl-houses were obviously demonstrated.

The pollinating activity of bumblebee, Bombus ignitus was investigated at the blossom of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] planted in vinyl house. The major time of foraging activity by B. ignitus was between 08:00 and 7:00, and the peak time of pollinating activity by B. ignitus was 11:00 in the peach vinyl house from February 28 to March 5 in 2002. The rate of fruit set and the rate of marketable fruit by foraging activity of B. ignitus were much better than artificial pollination, and the effect of labor reduction by the pollinating activities of B. ignitus released against the artificial pollination was took remarkable profits over 93%. Therefore, the foraging activity of B. ignitus in peach vinyl house brought satisfactory results among the rate of fruit set, the rate of marketable fruit and the effect of labor reduction against the artificial pollination.

방울토마토에서 호박벌의 방화활동과 과도한 방화가 토마토 생산물에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과 호박벌의 최대 방화활동시각은 08:00였으며, 한 개의 꽃을 방문하기 위하여 걸리는 시간은 평균 11.7초였다. 일벌의 1회 외역활동시 총 방화시간은 평균 41분 37초였으며 평균 195.2개의 꽃을 방문하였다. 평당 2마리의 일벌이 활동한 24시간 소문개방구에서 꽃에 체류하는 시간은 8.85.4초로, 평당 1마리 호박벌이 활동한 1시간 소문개방구에서 체류한 4.03.1초에 비해 두 배 이상 길었다. 1시간 소문개방구의 토마토 수술의 색깔은 대부분 갈색인 반면, 24시간 소문개방구는 잦은 방화에 의해 흑갈색으로 변하였다. 1시간 소문개방구의 토마토 4-6화방의 평균 착과율은 48.9%로서 24시간 소문개방구의 착과율 43.3%와 유의한 차이는 없었으나, 과실내 종자 수는 24시간 소문개방구가 64.0개로 1시간 개방구 55.3개에 비해 많았다. 1시간 소문개방구와 24시간 소문개방구간의 과중은 각각 25.4g과 24.4g,과실의 당도는 모두 5.1%로 차이가 인정되지 않았다(P>0.05). 이상의 결과로 볼 때 방울토마토의 경우 호박벌 일벌의 과도한 방화활동으로 인하여 생산물에 미치는 영향은 없는 것으로 조사되었다.

국내 관련 연구소 및 대학 등에 소장된 표본과 일부 북한산 표본 등을 대상으로 분류동정한 결과 총 17종이 확인되었다. 이 중 Bombus (Tricornibombus) atripes는 한반도에서 처음 기록하며 B. (Thoracobombus) humilis subbaicalensis Vogt는 남한에서 처음으로 기록한다. 이들을 포함한 한반도산 7 아속 21종에 대한 검색표와 채집기록, 각 종의 기주 개화식물에 대하여 기술하였다.