딱정벌레목(Coleoptera) 거저리과(Tenebrionidae)에 속하는 외미거저리(Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer))는 저장곡물해충의 하나로 알 려져 있지만, 대부분 이미 피해를 받은 곡물을 섭식하기 때문에 경제적으로 심각한 위협을 초래할 정도는 아니다. 그러나 이 외미거저리 해충은 많은 나라의 가금산업에서 매우 중요한 해충으로 간주되고 있다. 우리나라의 육계농장에서도 외미거저리가 발생하여 문제를 야기하고 있음이 확 인되었고, 이 해충의 발생으로 야기되는 문제로는 육계농장의 보온효과 및 병아리의 전반적인 활력을 떨어뜨리고, 병원균을 전염시킴으로써 가 금업자에게 상당한 경제적 손실을 가져다주고 있다. 한편, 육계농장에서 이 외미거저리 개체군을 한 가지 방법으로 완전히 제거하기가 쉽지 않기 때문에 적절한 방제방법을 개발하기 위한 노력이 절실하다.

While the darkling beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is considered a pest of stored products, it does not pose a significant economic threat to this industry. The grains these beetles feed on are often already damaged. However, the beetle is considered the foremost premise pest in the poultry industry in many countries of the world. Recently, the darking beetle has also infested in broiler chicken houses of Korea. The problems caused by this pest are destroying their insulative capability, lowering chick’s overall performance and transmitting pathogenic organisms, and have been substantial economic losses to poultry producers. Therefore, we surveyed the status of infestation and damage of this pest in broiler chicken houses. Because there is no simple one step process that will completely eliminate darkling beetle populations from broiler facilities, we would like to outline further studies on the proper control measures.

The developmental responses of insects to temperature are important considerations in gaining a better understandingof their ecology and life histories. Temperature dependent models permit examination of the effect of temperature onthe geographical distributions, population dynamics, and management of insects. The measurements of insect developmentaland survival responses to temperature pose practical challenges that depend. The developmental characteristics of A. diaperinuswere investigated at four temperature regimes (20, 25, 30 and 35℃), a relative humidity of 60%, and a light:dark photoperiodof 16:8h. The developmental time from larva to adult was 129.0, 49.8, 40.5 and 31.9 days at temperatures of 20, 25,30 and 35℃, respectively. Pupal rate was 80.0%, 100%, 83.3% and 91.7% at temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35 respectively.There is an increasing need for a standardized manual for rearing this. Pupa had significantly lower weights at 35℃than at the other temperatures. Female pupae (20mg) were significantly heavier than male pupae (17mg).