Spring phenology of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, was monitored using sex pheromone traps in apple cultivating areas. Their occurrence was earlier in southern areas and their population sizes were significantly different among orchards even in a local cultivating zone. The overwintering populations appeared to move between local orchards, based on the fact that monitoring data obtained at the sites between orchards were similar to those of nearby orchards. However, within orchards, these adult movements appeared to decrease and showed skewed occurrences at the side of upwind direction or close to neighboring orchards. At initial occurrence peak (April 20-25), the overwintering populations of the different localities were collected and analyzed in their genetic distances. PCR-RAPD analysis indicated that there were significant genetic differences among the overwintering populations of G. molesta. This genetic differentiation of overwinterin populations may be due to genetic bottleneck following differential selection pressures against the subpopulations of G. molesta during winter on the basis of the RAPD analysis that each early spring population was significantly different to its previous fall population in the same locality.

The present study aimed to investigate the local moth fauna and population change during a year on Island Oenarodo (N34˚27'50", E127˚28'06", 74 m a. s. l.), Goheung-gun, Jeonnam. Moth collecting was carried out using a light trap from Ma

Murgot Looper Moth, Ascotis selenaria, is one of the worldwide pests in citrus plants. They usually damages citrus leaves and often makes young fruits injured. In Jeju, it has been discovered that A. selenaria is a pest of two major geometridae moths being occurred in citrus plant and they also had periodically occurred and damaged bean, asparagus, etc. However, physiological and ecological studies were rarely conducted on this species, which maybe resulted from the limitation of rearing method. Therefore, this study aimed on selecting the diet sources and developing mass-rearing method for A. selenaria, in order to make ease or spur a investigation related with A. selenaria. The major sources, selected among the series of semi-artificial diet, were corn and bean powder and adding yeast makes the larva developed well. Cholesterol, one of the minor sources, enhanced the development rate and lowered the mortality during 1 to 3 larva stage. Consequently the semi-artificial diet, suitable for rearing A. selenaria larva, was composed of 25g agar, 100g corn powder, 100g soybean powder, 30g yeast, 0.5g cholesterol, 2g Vanderzant's vitamin mixture, 2g Wesson's salt mixture, 2g sorbic acid, 2.5g methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate(MPH), 2g Ascorbic acid, and 1000 ml distilled water. A. selenaria larvae has 6 developmental stage and the width of head piece was 0.31 mm (1st instar) , 0.51 mm (2nd), 0.85 mm(3rd), 1.37 mm (4th), 2.14 mm (5th), and 3.19 mm (6th). The development period of A. selenaria, reared at 25℃ and 16L:8D photoperiod, was 4.7 day (egg), 3.58 day(1st instar), 1.88 day (2nd), 1.80 day (3rd), 2.46 day (4th ), 2.59 day (5th), 8.10 day (6th), 11.26 day (pupae) when citrus leaves were supplied to the larva. The larvae, fed with the artificial diet(mentioned above), showed similar developmental periods at each developmental stage as much as the case reared with citrus leaves, although the mortality was sometimes a little bit higher. The weight of pupae were 0.614g (artificial diet) and 0.427g (citrus stuff) and female adult moths lay 1094 eggs (artificial diet) and 1054 eggs (citrus stuff).

Hemolin is a member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and contains four Ig domainsthat are similar to neural cell adhesion molecules. It has been regarded as a recognition molecule at immune challenge in insects. This study showed that hemolin of Plutella xylostella was expressed during pupal and adult stages but absent in all larval instars without any immune challenge. It is, however, strongly induced by the injection of Escherichia coli or its lipopolysaccharide in hemocytes, fat body and gut. A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) interference experiment revealedits role in activation of prophenoloxidase (PPO) in the hemolymph during bacterial infection. Also its involvement in cellular defense was investigated in its mediation of the adherence of hemocytes to rat blood erythrocytes which was knocked down by its dsRNA. Finally, its physiological significance in pupal stage was confirmed by using dsRNA, which significantly prevented adult development. Therefore, it is concluded that hemolin plays roles in both immune and adult development in P. xylostella.

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, is reluctant to a baculovirus, Autographa california nucleopolyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) at its oral administration. However, parasitization by an endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia plutellae, enhances the viral susceptibility. This study analyzed an antiviral activity of P. xylostella in response to the viral infection and determined the parasitic factor inhibiting the antiviral mechanism. For the analysis of antiviral activity of P. xylostella, a recombinant AcNPV expressing enhanced green fluorescence (AcNPV-EGFP) was orally adminstered to lavae of P. xylostella. After 24 h, EGFP expression was observed in the midgut tissue at a confocal-FITC mode. At the same time, a characteristic midgut melanotic response (MMR) was observed in some midgut regions under a phase contrast microscope. Thereafter, the EGFP signal was attenuated, while MMR spread on most midgut region. When the MMR was scored from 0 to 5 by the intensity of melanized cell density, it increased in time- and dose-dependent manners at the viral administration per os. These results suggest that the MMR is an antiviral activity of P. xylostella. This antiviral activity was significantly attenuated by C. plutellae parasitism. The parasitized P. xylostella showed significant decrease in the MMR score compared to nonparasitized larvae when they were orally administered with the same dose of AcNPV. To determine the parasitic factor(s) inhibiting the antiviral activity from the symbiotic polydnavirus of C. plutellae (C. plutellae bracovirus: CpBV), CpBV-IkB, which is a viral homolog of NFkB inhibitor and has been considered as an antiviral factor as in other polydnaviruses, was tested. A recombinant AcNPV expressing CpBV-IkB (AcNPV-IkB) was constructed and administered to P. xylostella larvae. As expected, AcNPV-IkB significantly decreased the antiviral activity measured by the MMR score compared to AcNPV-EGFP treatment. This study suggests that CpBV-IkB plays an antiviral parasitic role in the molecular interactions between P. xylostella and C. plutellae.

Many female moths produce and release sex pheromones to mate successfully with a conspecific male. Sex pheromone production in lepidopteran moth is known to be under the regulation of a pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN). A PBAN polypeptide is processed into five neuropeptides (NPs) after post-translational modification, resulting in diapause-like NP, PBAN, α-, β- and γ-NP. All of the peptides are amidated in their C-termini and shared a conserved motif, FXPR(or K)L structure. PBAN (Plx-PBAN) from Plutella xylostella consists of 30 amino acids, the shortest PBAN so far reported. When female adults were injected with synthetic Plx-PBAN, pheromone production showed a maximal increase 1 h post-injection. RT-PCR screening revealed that Plx-PBAN cDNA was expressed in both sexes, with the highest expression level in the head of female adults. Plx-PBAN binds to its receptor on pheromone gland cells. PBAN receptor has seven transmembranes, indicating G-protein coupled receptor family and transduces its signal via G-protein mediated signal transduction. Subsequently, calcium channels remain activated and stimulate biochemical reactions for sex pheromone production in the pheromone gland.

This study demonstrates a variability in efficacy of mating disruption against the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, populations infesting apples cultivated in differential environmental conditions. Throughout the growing seasons, trap catches of G. molesta male moths and damaged leaf and fruit were examined to evaluate the efficacy of a commercialized mating disruptor. Treatment of the mating disruptor significantly reduced the trap catches of male moth in treated plot, compared to those of the untreated plot. This reduced trap catches were significantly correlated with leaf and fruit damage. Moreover, the highest host damage occurred in June just after the highest overwintering adult peaks in both plots. The treatment of mating disruptors in Chungsong effectively disrupted the overwintering population in April and May, resulting in no noticeable host damage during the following growing seasons. However, there was a marked difference in host damage between two plots, especially in late seasons. Variation in the efficacy of mating disruption technology in terms of host damage appeared to be related with nearby pheromone-untreated orchards, which may result in the immigration of gravid females.

Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, is a serious pest on apples. To control this pest in an environmentally friendly method, mating disruption strategy using sex pheromone has been developed. Area-wide application of mating disruption has been needed to be effective, with little understanding on how much size of apple cultivating area should be treated in one time application of the mating disruption technique. On this matter, we needed to determine a minimal mating active zone of G. molesta that should be applied with mating disrupters to be effective. Molecular markers to discriminate a specific population should be developed to trace population migration for reproductive behaviors. Here we developed two effective molecular markers using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Different field populations of G. molesta, based on locations and seasons, were analyzed with these markers. In a specific location, G. molesta populations varied in genetic composition with different seasons. Different local populations showed differential variation according to their relative distances among apple orchards. In overall, genetic variation among different populations became lessen with progression of seasons.

This survey was conducted from 1992 to 2005 in the major apple producing districts in southern part of South Korea including 4~8 cities, to know the occurrence and damage level of two major pests, Carposina sasakii and Grapholita molesta that attack apple fruit. The fruit damage by G. molesta during the harvest period ranged from 0.02 to 1.64%. A tendency of higher damage of G. molesta was observed after 1997 compared with the previous years. The other hand, the fruit damage by C. sasakii was 0.02 to 1.30%, and the damage level was very low with fruit damage of ＜ 0.3% except 1998. The orchard infested with G. molesta was 13 to 71%, while 12 to 57% with C. sasakii. The rates of orchards where fruit damage by G. molesta was found were higher than those by C. sasakii after 1997. The tendency of fruit damage rates in the orchard where the most fruit damage was found was same with the trend of orchard rates infested with the pests. The maximum damage rate by G. molesta was 20.0% in 2005, while 4.5% by C. sasakii in 1998. The damaged shoot rates by the first generation G. molesta was 0.1~8.1%, and it had a positive correlation with the rates of fruit damage during the harvest period. Consequently, it is concluded that G. molesta is dominant species compared with C. sasakii in commercial apple orchards recently.

This research was carried out to develop economical artificial diets of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.). Diets were mixed with malt or sugar instead of whole honey for cheaper ones. Fecundity, developmental period, pupation rate, emergence rate and adult longevity of G. mellonella depending on diet were examined. The head width and length of larvae were not significantly different among diets tested. However, the weight of larva was the heaviest, 255.5 ㎎, at 1/2 honey + 1/2 malt diet and lightest, 144.3 ㎎, at sugar diet. The weight of pupa was also the heaviest at 1/2 honey + 1/2 malt representing 196.7 ㎎. Larval period was the shortest at honey diet as 30.9 days but the longest at sugar diet as 36.5 days. Pupation and emergence rates were over 79.3% at all diets. The longevity of mated females was ranged from 6.3 to 8.0 days and those of mated males ranged from 7.9 to 11.2 days. The highest number of eggs, 1269, was obtained at sugar diet. Artificial diets replaced by rice bran, malt, and sucrose reduced costs compared with wheat bran plus honey diet. The cost of rice bran was only 10% of wheat bran. Honey was much more expensive than malt and sugar, that is 6 and 13 times, respectively.

Three active components (Z8-12:Ac, E8-12:Ac, and Z8-12:OH) are known in sex pheromone of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, and have been commercially available to apply for population monitoring and mating disruption. However, there have been variation among commercial products in pheromone composition and amount impregnated in each pheromone releaser. This study was performed to optimize factors influencing on pheromone monitoring of G. molesta by analyzing pheromone composition/amount, effective period of releaser, and trap type/placement in apple trees. High purity of Z8-12:Ac component was effective to attract males, in which 96% or more of cis acetate isomer component appeared to be optimal composition. Pheromone amounts (0.01-1 ㎍) impregnated in each rubber dispenser did not give significant effect on monitoring during 90 days from June to August. "Delta" trap was much more efficient than "cone" trap to collect males. Trap installation was another factor, in which placing traps at canopy level was much efficient than at trunk or ground levels. Pheromone trap monitoring with these optimal factors indicated three to four adult peaks from June to September in addition to high overwintering population from April to May in pesticide-applied orchards in Andong, Korea.

This study was performed to estimate the efficacy of three commercial mating disruptors for the control of oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), using a food-baited trap to collect field females. Mated female ratios estimated in the mating disruptor-treated areas were compared with the estimates of male trap captures, and both estimates were evaluated on the basis of crop damage measured by shoot tip damage caused by G. molesta. Both males and females were attracted to the food trap-baited with terpinyl acetate in apple orchard. Spermatophore of G. molesta was similar to female bursa copulatrix in size. Though there was more than 95% reduction in male trap captures indicating significant mating disruption, significant crop damage occurred on apple leaf buds, in which more than 35% of captured females were mated. This study demonstrates that assessment of the mated females would be more reasonable to represent the efficacy of mating disruptor(s) than the assessment of the male captures in G. molesta.

Three sex pheromone components (cis-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z12Ac), trans-8-dodecenyl acetate (E12Ac), cis-8-dodecenol (Z12OH)) of the Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta, were chemically synthesized. Especially to increase the composition of cis-stereoisomer, a triple bond intermediate was hydrogenated at -20℃ with catalytic Pd/BaSO₄. The resulting product consisted of the acetates with a stereoisomer ratio in 92:8 (Z:E). The biological activity of the synthesized pheromone compounds was analyzed both in male responses and orientation disruption. The indoor pheromone effect was determined by male flight behavior showing wing movement in response to lure. Different mixtures of the synthetic pheromone components were prepared by mixing acetate and alcohol components in 100:0, 99:1, and 90:10 (g/g) and tested with a comparison of a standard commercial pheromone lure. The highest pheromone effect was observed in only acetate mixture (100:0) and the effect was reduced with the addition of the alcohol component. This indoor pheromone effect could be observed in field monitoring trial, in which 100:0 mixture showed the highest trap catches. Orientation disruption assay was conducted indoor by using a cage, in which the center had a commercial lure on sticky plate and the four candidates were placed at 6 ㎝ away from the central lure on each of four directions. Test males were released to the arena during overnight (12 h) and then the caught males on the sticky plate were counted. The synthesized pheromone as well as the commercial pheromone showed 100% orientation disruption. However, the orientation disruption effect was reduced with decrease in the number of the surrounding disrupting pheromone baits. These results clearly suggest that the synthesized sex pheromone of G. molesta is biologically active and can be used for field mating disruption.

Efficacies of two commercial mating distruptors (SPLAT<SUP>®</SUP> and Isomate<SUP>®</SUP>-ROSSO) were evaluated on field overwintering populations of Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), in four apple orchards. Based on the monitoring with sex pheromone traps, all the orchards (Youngchun, Kyungsan, Chungsong, and Youngju in Korea) exhibited significant overwintering populations from late April to late May. Both mating disruptors that were applied 10 days before the monitoring period significantly inhibited the male orientation to the monitoring lures, in which SPLAT type was more effective than Isomate type in the disrupting efficacy. The disruption of male orientation was highly correlated with the reduction in the early leaf damage caused mostly by G. molesta.

Five strains of Korean entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), steinernematids and heter-orhabditids were evaluated and tried in laboratory, pot, and vegetable greenhouses for environmentally friendly control of diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, from 2002 to 2005. LC₅₀ values of five EPN strains against DBM were different depending on nematode strain and DBM instar. LC₅₀ value of Steinernema carpocapsae GSN1 (GSN1) was the lowest representing 2.6~3.9 infective juveniles (Ijs, 3rd stage) to 2nd to 4th instars of DBM. Pathogenicity of five effective strains against DBM was different depending on nematode strain, concentration, application times, and vegetable in pot. The most effective nematode was GSN1. Steinernema spp. was more effective than Heterorhabditis spp. against DBM. Two or three times of applications of EPN were effective regardless of nematode strain and concentration in pot. Efficacy of EPN was different depending on vegetable species. Efficacy was higher on Chinese cabbage, red mustard, and Ssamchoo than that on cabbage, kale, and leaf broccoli. Efficacy of GSN1, Steinernema GSNUS-10, Steinernema GSNUS-14, and Heterorhabditis GSNUH-l was variable depending on nematode strain, concentration, application times, and vegetable in greenhouse experiments. GSN1 was the most effective and 100,000 infective juveniles per ㎡ (=1 × 10⁹ Ijs/ha) resulted in higher efficacy. Three times of application of nematodes led to higher control efficacy than one or two applications. Efficacy of nematodes was higher on Chinese cabbage than cabbage or kale in greenhouse.

Inhibitor <SUB>K</SUB>B (I<SUB>K</SUB>B)-like gene has been found ill the genome of Cotesia plutellae bracovirus (CpBV), which is the obligatory symbiont of an endoparsitoid wasp, C. plutellae. The open reading frame of CpBV-I<SUB>K</SUB>B was 417 bp and encoded 138 amino acids. Four ankyrin repeat domains were found in CpBV-I<SUB>K</SUB>B, which shared high homology with other known polydnavirus I<SUB>K</SUB>Bs. Considering a presumptive cellular I<SUB>K</SUB>B based on Drosophila Cactus, CpBV-I<SUB>K</SUB>B exhibited a truncated structure with deletion of signal-receiving domains, which suggested its irreversible inhibitory role in NF<SUB>K</SUB>B signal transduction pathway of the parasitized host in response to the wasp parasitization. CpBV-I<SUB>K</SUB>B was expressed only in the parasitized diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Its expression was estimated by quantitative RT-PCR during parasitization period, showing a constitutive expression pattern from the first day of parasitization. An indirect functional analysis of CpBV-I<SUB>K</SUB>B was conducted and suggested a hypothesis of host antivirus inhibition.

대용량 밀 저장 엘리베이터(직경 8 m, 높이 41 m)에서 화랑곡나방(Plodia interpunctella ())의 유충기생봉, Bracon hebetor Say, 방사를 통한 화랑곡나방 개체군의 억제 실험을 수행하였다. 2002 년 7월 23일부터 일주 간격으로 총 50,000 마리의 기생봉을 방사하였던 바 화랑곡나방 성충의 밀도 수준이 방사하지 않은 엘리베이터에 비해서 30% 수준으로 유지되었다.