We analyzed trends of ants intercepted on imported plants and lumber over the past 30 years, using data extracted from the Pest Information System (PIS). There were 1,629 cases of about 112 species (5 subfamilies, 45 genera) from planting plants such as Asparagales, Alismatales, and Saxifragales, and 2,217 cases of about 86 species (7 subfamilies, 42 genera) from lumbers such as square lumber, pellets, and solid wood. For intercepted trends by continent, Asia was the most frequently detected at 91%, followed by Europe at 1% and North America at nearly 1%. Among Asian countries, Malaysia (27%) represented the highest number of interceptions, followed closely by Indonesia at 26%.

After detection of red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) at Gamman port in Busan in September of 2017, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency has surveilled invasive ants in the area with a high invasion risk of ants. However, existing surveillance traps have several limitations such as captured ants could escape easily or it is very hard to set up the trap on a hard ground like concrete or asphalt. To solve these problems, we developed a new trap using multiple narrow tubes to attract ants to the inside of the trap and make it hard for ants to escape. The new trap can be easily set up under various conditions. The new trap has more than four times ant capturing efficacy compared to conventional pitfall traps. Our results confirmed that the new trap could prevent captured ants from escaping. We hope that this newly developed trap would contribute to the prevention of invasive ants.

본 연구는 생물 다양성의 지표종인 개미류의 시기별 우점종 및 개체군 변동을 살펴보고, 추후 기후변화에 따른 개체군 변화의 기초자료를 확보하고자 수행되었다. 조사 기간은 2013년 6월부터 9월까지 고도별 조사 지점을 선정하고, 함정트랩을 사용하여 정방형조사법(10m×10m)으로 개미의 분포를 조사하였다. 고도별 조사 결과, 총 3아과 11속 14종 15,466개체가 채집되었다. 낮은 고도(700m)에서 13종 4,548개체의 분포가 확인되었으며, 우점종은 일본장다리개미(49.9%)로 나타났고, 중간 고도(900m)에서 8종 9,129개체가 채집되었으며, 우점종으로 극동혹개미(57.7%)의 분포가 확인되었으며, 높은 고도 (1,100m)에서 10종 1,789개체가 확인되었으며, 우점종으로 코토쿠뿔개미(43.3%)가 확인되었다. 고도별로 일본장다리개미, 스미스개미, 극동혹개미는 폭넓게 분포하는 것으로 확인되었다.

Recent increase of raw sequences generated by next generation sequencing (NGS) machines enabled re-analyzing raw sequences for diverse purposes: one is assembling organelle genome. One recent study completed the mitochondrial genomes of 14 ants from public raw sequences in subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae not having organelle genomes. Along with this approach, we have found four ant species of which genome papers were published and its raw sequences were open to public but its mitochondrial genome has not been assembled yet: Harpegnathos saltator and three Pogonomyrmex species (P. rugosus, P. anergismus, and P. colei). We assembled four complete mitochondrial genomes, presenting mitogenome of H. saltator 16,467 bp long and those of three Pogonomyrmex species above 21 kb long, ranking top among all known Hymenopteran mitogenomes. Four mitochondrial genomes contain 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs, conserved as in all other insects. Phylogenomic tree based on partial or complete mitogneomes covering 26 genera provides insights of ant mitogenomic phylogeny and evolution.

The disadvantage of the current Red imported fire ants (RIFA) diagnostic is that it takes at least two days, because it is subjected to PCR amplification and DNA sequence identification process using an arthropod universal mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I prime pair after genomic DNA extraction. In order to overcome this drawback, two RIFA specific genes were confirmed and used to develop techniques for identifying the species using various PCR methods. The conventional PCR method can be confirmed by the presence of amplified DNA, but additional time is required to confirm whether the PCR products are present or not. In contrast, SYBR green Real Time (RT) PCR or TaqMan probe RT PCR method has the advantage of confirming the results immediately after the reaction is completed. The new molecular diagnostic method has the advantage of shortening the time of two days, which is the biggest disadvantage of RIFA molecular diagnostic method, to 3 hours or less.