Vespa binghami (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is one of the 10 species in the genus Vespa distributed in South Korea and is the only nocturnal wasp. In this study, we sequenced complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the species using the Sanger method and using Vespa-specific 30 primer sets. The length of V. binghami was 15,957 bp and the total A/T content was 80.6%. The A+T-rich region of V. binghami was 152 bp, and other Vespa species ranged from 39 bp (V. velutina) to 2,230 bp (V. v. auraria). Compared to the majority of insects, the gene arrangement of V. binghami had differences as followings: trnY-trnI-trnM-trnQ, trnN-trnE-trnS1-trnF, and trnS2-trnL1. However, all species in the genus Vespa registered in GenBank to date were composed of the same arrangement. Phylogenetic analysis using 13 PCGs and 2 rRNA genes showed the sister relationship between V. binghami and V. orientalis with the higher nodal supports.

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.

Chromosomal level of Korean Diadegma fenestrale (Jeju strain, JK-2023a) of genome assembly was achieved through a combined approach utilizing Nanopore long-read sequencing and Illumina NovaSeq short-read sequencing (approximately 217.2× coverage). The assembled genome spans 221.1 Mb, comprises 68 scaffolds, with most of the genome contained within 11 chromosomal level scaffolds. The completeness of the assembly is reflected in BUSCO assessment, with values reaching 99.6%. Scaffold N50 was 17.4 Mb, and GC % was 40%. RNAseq was performed using RNA extracted from larvae, pupae, and adults at various developmental stages (trimmed RNA-Seq data, 11.3 Gb), and a total of 13,544 genes were predicted by synthesizing the transcriptome information with the annotation information of five closely related species such as, Campoletis sonorensis (GCA_013761285.1), Venturia canescens (GCF_019457755.1), and Nasonia vitripennis (GCF_000002325.3, and GCF_009193385.2). Of these, 13,498 genes were identified by BLAST and are being further analyzed. Although the frequency of DfIV genome integration into the host’s 11 chromosomes varies from 0 to 32%, it was confirmed that all 62 DfIV genome fragments were inserted into the Hymenopteran host genome.

The Chalcididae belong to a medium-sized family of parasitoids in the superfamily Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). Chalcidids can be recognized by the swollen hind femur, the indistinct prepectus, the sharp occipital carina bordering the gena posteriorly, and the strong punctation of the mesosoma. They have been recorded parasitizing six insect orders, and several species are facultative or obligate hyperparasitoids. More than 1,500 species in 90 genera have been recorded worldwide, of which 12 species in six genera have been recorded in South Korea. As a result of taxonomic and faunal studies on Korean Chalcididae, we have found two newly recorded species, Haltichella nipponensis Habu and Dirhinus anthracia Walker, in Korea. These species were discovered using Malaise traps, Lindgren funnel traps, and observation with the naked eye in Jeonbuk, Gangwon province, and Sejong city in 2023. The genus Haltichella Spinola, 1811, is recorded in Korea for the first time. In this presentation, we provide morphological and ecological information on these species.

The box tree moth (BTM, Cydalima perspectalis Walker) is a pest that infests various plants within the Buxus genus. Although a specific parasitoid wasp species associated with the BTM has been observed in the Republic of Korea, no research on this species has been published. Here we describe the fundamental biological and morphological characteristics of this parasitoid. We placed the wasp under the genus Eriborus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae). Eriborus sp. parasitizes within the living host body, with one wasp emerging from each host. The parasitism rate in collected BTM populations was 33.1%. The emergence rate was 87.1%, with all emerging adults being females, resulting in a sex ratio of 0. The pupal period averaged 9.5 days, and the adult lifespan averaged 10.5 days. Eriborus sp. parasitized BTM larvae from the first to the fourth instar and reproduced by parthenogenesis. Eriborus sp. exhibited morphological differences compared with previously reported Eriborus species in Korea, particularly in the length of the ovipositor sheath. In addition, the proportion of the highest similarity in nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I DNA was only 94.53%, rendering species identification using GenBank’s mt cytochrome c oxidase 1 DNA sequences unfeasible. These data suggest Eriborus sp. could be used as a biological control agent for managing BTM infestations.

곤충 생물다양성의 파괴는 결국 인류의 몰락을 가져올 정도로 심각하지만, 생물다양성을 지키는 것이 그리 간단하지만은 않은 것 같다. 벌목의 곤충은 잎을 섭식하는 식식성부터 숙주의 개체수를 조절해주는 기생성과 집단으로 생활하며 먹이를 공급받는 사회성에 이르기까지 다양한 습성을 갖는 분류군이다. 뿐만아니라 나비목, 딱정벌레목, 파리목, 노린재목과 같이 다양성이 매우 높은 5대 분류군 중 하나이다. 2021년 발간된 한국곤충명집 에 따르면 현재 우리나라 벌목의 곤충은 67과 1,137속 4,223종으로 알려져 있다. 국내 분류학 전문가들의 꾸준한 연구 노력의 결과 우리나라 벌목 뿐만아니라 곤충의 분포 정보는 해마다 늘어가고 있으나, 생물다양성의 손실은 세계 곳곳에서 가시화되고 있다. 국내에 서식하는 다양한 벌목 곤충들이 앞으로도 이곳을 떠나지 않고 우리와 함께 하기를 바라며 이번 심포지움이 국내 곤충다양성 유지를 위한 작은 움직임이 되길 바란다.

Halictidae 전 세계적으로 3,500종 이상 발견된 큰 그룹이며 사람들의 땀에 이끌리는 특성을 보여 Sweat bee라는 이름으로 불린다. 이번 연 구에서는 꼬마꽃벌과에 속하는 Halictus hedini hedini Blüthgen, 1934을 한국에서 처음으로 보고한다. 본 종의 기재, 분포정보, 그리고 삽화를 제공 한다.

등검은말벌은 우리나라 뿐 아니라 유럽지역에 침입한 꿀벌의 중요한 포식해충이다. 양봉가들이 살충제를 활용하여 밀도 억제를 시도하고 있으나 아직까지 실현가능하고 과학적 방법과 적용 가능성이 정형화되지 않았다. 본 연구는 양봉가들이 주로 사용하는 살충제를 가지고, 등검은 말벌의 유충과 성충의 살충율과 반응 패턴을 조사하였다. Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, Carbosulfan은 처리 후 30분 내 70% 이상의 살충률을 보 였으며, Bifenthrin, Cartap hydrochloride의 상대적으로 살충률이 낮았다. Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, Carbosulfan의 반수치사약량(LD50)은 각 0.29, 0.65, 2.21 μg/bee이었다. 5령 유충에 대한 24시간 간격으로 3회 연속 섭식 처리를 했을 때, 2일이후에 약효가 나타났고 72시간 후에는 모두 70% 이상 살충률을 보였다. 등검은말벌의 반수치사약량은 양봉꿀벌의 것보다 10-100배 더 높았다. 향후 이 살충제를 말벌 방제에 이용할 수 있을지 추가적 검토가 필요하다.

굴파리과에 기생하는 종으로 알려진 Bitomus (갗고치벌속)는 한국에 4종 보고되어있다. Bitomus는 Fischer (1987, 1994)에 의해 개정되었 고, Papp (1978, 1981)에 의해 한국에서 보고되었다. Bitomus는 움직이지 않게 연결된 마치 껍질과 같은 2-3번째 또는 4번째 복부마디로 다른 속들 과 구별된다. 본 조사연구 결과로 Bitomus indicus를 국내 최초로 보고한다. 기술과 진단형질도판을 수록한다.

Vespidae are social insects and crucial predators that prey upon various insects. In particular, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, as a representative predator of honey bees, inflicts huge economic damage on apiary. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the national distribution of vespid wasps. In this study, collection was made, in 73 study sites, using hornetluring traps and malaise traps in Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsang-do, Chungcheong-do, and Jeju-do from 2019 to 2022. As a result, a total of 24,974 individuals of 24 species, 5 genera, and 2 subfamilies were collected, with the largest number of species collected in Gangwon-do (22 species, 5 genera, and 2 subfamilies). Also, Vespa simillima simillima (38.2%), Vespa crabro flavofasciata (25.1%), Vespa crabro flavofasciata (23.8%), Vespa velutina nigrithorax (27.5%), and Vespa simillima xanthoptera (54.6%) are the dominant species in each province, respectively. Species richness (R') and species evenness (E') were highest in Gyeonggi-do (R'=2.712, E'=0.978), and species diversity (H') was highest in Gyeongsang-do (H'=2.981). Dominance was highest in Jeju-do (DI=0.719). Herein, we provide basic data needed in development of vespid damage management systems using regional sampling data and forest geospatial information in the study area.

We investigated the functional response of aphid parasitoid, Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at four different constant temperatures (15, 20, 25 and 30℃). Seven host densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, and 128) were used during a 24-h period. A type III functional response for A. colemani was fit separately at each constant temperature. The estimated handling times at 15, 20, 25, and 30℃ were 0.85, 0.61, 0.41 and 0.88 day, respectively. The proportion of aphids that were parasitized showed the similar characteristics curve at four different constant temperatures.

Vespula rufa (Linnaeus, 1758), known as the red wasp, is a social wasp species. We analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of V. rufa from South Korea, for an ongoing systematic study of the Korean Vespidae. This species is distributed in northern parts of North America, northern and central Europe, and parts of Asia. It can be distinguished from other species of the genus by usually having reddish brown areas on the 1st and 2nd tergites. The mitogenome is 17,663 bp in length, includes 13 protein-coding genes, 24 transfer RNA genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. The nucleotide composition is 40.5% adenines, 43.00% thymines, 6.1% guanines, and 10.4 % cytosines.

Parasitic rate of A. orientalis was calculated and compared with parasitic rate five years ago, immediately after release, and parasitic rate was also compared according to the distance away from the release point. In addition, haplotype of A. orientalis was confirmed and the association with life cycle characteristics was decided. The survey was conducted in 2022 and 2023. The parasitic rate of release point in Buyeo increased significantly from 3.6% in 18 years to 91.21% in 22. And the parasitic rate by distance from release point is 91.21% (200m), 44.46% (12km), and 65.75% (46km). At all points of survey, only haplotype C and D were found, and there was no significant difference between haplotype C and D in the parasitic rate and sex ratio.

In the genus Asobara Foester, 1863 (Braconidae: Alysiinae), two new species, Asobara rotundata sp. nov. is described and illustrated. In addition, the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) were sequenced for the species. An identification key for the Asobara species officially recorded from Korea is provided.

The Eurytoma appendigaster species-group is a second large group within the genus Eurytoma Illiger found in the Palearctic region. This group comprises 44 species by Zerova, but in Korea, only one species, E. appendigaster (Swederus), has been previously reported. They are well-known for their predation on phytophagous insects, mainly the genus Tetramesa which is belonged to the family Eurytomidae and associated with grasses (Poaceae). In this study, we report seven species of the appendigaster species-group from Korea for the first time. Also, key to Korean species of appendigaster species-group and photos of diagnostic characteristics are provided.

The genus Norbanus Walker 1843 (Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae) consists of 38 species distributed worldwide. Among them, 13 species have been described from the West and Central Palaearctic (Noyes 2003). Norbanus is one of several pteromalid genera that shares the character of a narrow spicula on the clava. In Korea, only one species in the genus Norbanus is recorded. In this study, we report Norbanus meridionalis for the first time in South Koera. We provided description and diagonostic illustration of Norbanus meridionalis.

Chromosomal level genome draft was assembled using a Korean Diadegma fenestrale (Jeju strain, KJ09). This assembly was achieved through a combined approach utilizing Nanopore long-read sequencing (approximately 134X coverage) and Illumina NovaSeq short-read sequencing (approximately 83X coverage). The assembled genome spans 243 Mb, comprises 160 scaffolds, with most of the genome contained within 11 chromosomal level scaffolds. The completeness of the assembly is reflected in BUSCO assessment, with values reaching 99.6%. Gene annotation is not completed. A symbiotic virus, Diadegma fenestrale Ichnovirus (DfIV) genome revealed 62 non-overlapping circular DNA segments the aggregate genome size was approximately 240 kb. Although the frequency of DfIV genome integration into the host’s 11 chromosomes varies from 0 to 32%, it was confirmed that all 62 DfIV genome fragments were inserted into the host genome. A total of 123 ORFs were predicted from the DfIV genome and most of those were expressed in the host’s ovary. This result may be contradictory to existing theories, but we propose a new hypothesis that some genes possessed by viruses may play different roles depending on the type and state of the host. Additionally, this phenomenon can be considered in relation to coevolution with the hosts.

Subfamily Eumeninae, also known as the potter wasp, constructs mud cells and lays a single egg in each cell. The adult female potter wasp hunts lepidopteran larvae and paralyzes them then brings them back to the nest for its offspring. This research is focused on the behavioral study of Euodynerus nipanicus nipanicus. The environmental characteristics, nesting behavior, predatory behavior, and parasitoids are represented. The rate of occupancy of the nest holes was 70.83%, with 5.4 cells per nest hole. The average length of cells was 12.11mm long, and they were filled with 4.23 larvae respectively. Also, the time period from egg to adult of the wasp was 36.27 days, on average. By analyzing the prey hunted and stored inside the nest cell, 4 different species in minimum were found to be hunted. Additionally, hymenopteran parasitoid and lepidopteran kleptoparasite are newly discovered. The research suggests that providing nest traps to potter wasps can increase the natural biological control held by the potter wasp species and could support the conservation of the potter wasps.

In Korea, the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) and the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) are the two most common honey bee species. These two closely related species are known to have different sensitivity levels to various insecticides due to millennia of exposure to different pests and pesticides. It is reported that A. cerana is known to be more sensitive to several insecticides, such as amitraz, fenitrothion, and fipronil, than A. melllifera. Multiple studies investigated toxicological responses and related CYPome in A. mellifera, but little is known in A. cerana. The goal of this study is to elucidate the underlying mechanism of different toxicological responses between two bee species, with an emphasis on cytochrome P450 (P450), a significant enzyme involved in metabolic activities. The differences in basal P450 expression patterns were investigated by comparing the relative expression levels of P450 orthologs in several dissected organisms of each species. To compare the sensitivity against major insecticides, lethal doses of major insecticides relevant to both honey bee species were assessed by topical and oral ingestion bioassays. The determined sublethal doses of insecticides were applied to honey bees, and the inducibility of P450s was investigated by comparing the expression patterns of multiple P450s. From these results, this study eventually attempts to compare the toxicological differences between two Apis species with differences in induced cytochrome P450 expression levels.

In 2020, severe defoliation was reported in Abies holophylla plantations located in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do. This damage was attributed to an outbreak of an unidentified sawfly species from the genus Cephalcia (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae). The larvae of this sawfly caused significant defoliation of the leaves. This pest has been identified as Cephalcia koreana Park & Jung, sp. nov., described as a new species in 2023. To investigate the occurrence pattern and density of C. koreana, we set up emergence traps and analyzed samples from affected branches. Our results showed that the density peaks for adults, eggs, and larvae were in mid-May, late May, and early June of 2021, respectively. However, their density decreased sharply after a notably cold spring period in 2022. Here, I aim to discuss the outbreaks of insect pests and their population dynamics.