Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae from industrial insects are traditionally recognized as functional health foods in South Korea. We evaluated the immuno-modulatory effects of feeding beneficial microorganism (Bacillus velezensis TJS119) to P. brevitarsis larvae as a dietary source. In this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing activities of P. brevitarsis larvae hot-water extract (PLW) and PLW after treatment with B. velezensis TJS119 (PLWB) using the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. We examined the effects of PLWB on cell proliferation, cytokine production, and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells. PLWB showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations ranging from 7.8 to 1,000 μg/mL in RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with PLWB increased the production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] at doses of 62.5 to 1,000 μ g/mL in RAW264.7 cells. As a result, PLWB exhibited a stronger immune-enhancing effect compared to PLW. In conclusion, the results of this study offer experimental evidence to support the potential utilization of PLWB as an immunity-enhancing nutraceutical ingredient.

Bacillus velezensis TJS119 was isolated from the freshwater, and antagonistic activity against of pathogenic fungi. Strain TJS119 showed a broad spectrum of antagonistic activities many fungal pathogens, including the green muscardine fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. The whole-genome sequence of B. velzensis TJS119 was analyzed using the illumina platform. The genome comprises a 3,809,913 bp chromosome with a G + C content of 46.43%, 3,834 total genes, 10 rRNA and 73 tRNA genes. The genome contained a total of 8 candidate gene clusters (difficidin, fengycin, bacillaene, macrolactin, bacillibactin, bacilysin, surfactin and butirosin) to synthesize secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Overall, our data will aid future studies of the biocontrol mechanisms of B. velezensis TJS119 and promote its application in insect disease control.

아메리카동애등에 유충은 유기성폐기물을 먹이원으로 하며 그 분해산물인 동애등에분은 비료원료로 활용 가능하다. 그러나 농가에서 나오는 분변토는 염분함량이 높아 단독으로 사용하면 토양에 염류집적의 우려가 있다. 이에 산업곤충인 동애등에 분변토의 염분을 낮춰 퇴비로 활용하고자 옥수수(미백2호)에 5처리(무처리, 동애등에분, 동애등에분:흰점박이꽃무지분(2:8), 동애등에분:퇴비(2:8), 퇴비)로 비료를시용하였다. 옥수수 생 육은 초장, 간장, 웅수장, 착수고를 조사하였고 종실은 이삭중, 이삭장, 착립이삭장, 이삭폭 등을 조사하였다. 처리구별 옥수수 수량(kg/10a)은 무처리구 702.8kg, 동애등에분처리구 835.6kg. 동애등에분:흰점박이꽃무지분 (2:8) 처리구 723.7kg, 동애등에분:퇴비(2:8) 처리구 862.3kg, 퇴비 처리구 803.7kg으로 조사되었다. 동애등에 분변 토를 시판퇴비와 혼합하여 퇴비로 활용하면 옥수수 생산을 증진시키는데 효과적이나 장기적인 실험을 통해 토양과 작물에 미치는 영향을 모니터링해야 될 것으로 판단된다.

During the larval development process of insects, juvenile hormone (JH) is essential for regulating various aspects of larval life, including growth, reproduction, and behavior, throughout their larval stage. The larval stage of Spodoptera frugiperda, when it consumes plant-derived metabolites, develops into pupae, but these pupae are unable to molt successfully. In this way, plant-derived metabolites contain or produce inhibitors of juvenile hormone, thereby disrupting the development of insect larvae and making them vulnerable to harm. Therefore, in this study, we established an in vitro screening system using yeast cells transformed with the Met-SRC juvenile hormone receptor of S. frugiperda. Through this system, we were able to identify juvenile hormone disruptors from plant-derived metabolites and confirm their developmental inhibitory effects on the larvae of S. frugiperda.

The genus Silpha Linnaeus, 1758 in Silphinae includes 33 species worldwide. This group is flightless and known to feed on invertebrate carcasses from the ground surface. In South Korea, 3 species have been recorded, and S. koreana Cho& Kwon, 1999 is an endemic species, distributed only Mt. Taebaek and Mt. Mindung. Up to date the immature stages of the species has never been studied although the species has significant value as an endemic species. The present study is the very first one ever conducted describing the larval morphological characters of S. koreana along with images of larval stages. Furthermore, we report observations on developmental lengths for each stages of the species.

The Hangang River* is necessary to manage the water environment of severe pollution due to the high density of residential areas, parks, and agriculture and the large population concentrated there. Benthic macroinvertebrates, such as chironomids larvae, are bioindicator species that reflect environmental changes and are crucial for water quality monitoring. In this study, we investigated morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the chironomids larvae inhabiting the Hangang River area for water environment surveys. For this research, 20 rivers, lakes, and urban area in the Hangang River basin were selected. Chironomids larvae were collected from July to September 2022, and their appearance and characteristics were identified through morphological identification. In addition, phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the mtCOI gene sequences of the collected chironomids larvae, and identification at the genus level was confirmed. As a result, 32 species and 18 genera of 3 subfamilies of Chironomidae larvae were identified, and Stictochironomus sp. dominated most sites (6 sites). The morphological characteristics of the identified chironomids larvae, such as the mentum, ventromental plate, and antenna, were organized into table and pictorial keys, and a Bayesian inference molecular phylogeny was presented. These results provide basic morphological information for genus-level identification and can be used as fundamental information for water quality management. *The public nomenclature following by NGII 2015

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens, BSFL) is an environmental purification insect utilized as an animal feed source due to its high protein content. BSFL need to be dried to preserve quality, and the optimal drying method should be cost-effective. In this study, various drying methods (hot air (HD), freeze (FD), vacuum (VD), and combined-drying (CD)) were applied to BSFL, and then BSFL powders were characterized. Crude protein content was highest in HD and lowest in CD, and there was no significant difference in crude fat content (p>0.05). In the measurement of the total amino acid content of BSFL, glutamic acid and aspartic acid were the highest regardless of the drying method. The total amino acid content was the highest in HD and the lowest in CD. Total polyphenol content was higher in VD and FD than in HD and CD. Also, hydrogen peroxide and DPPH radical scavenging showed similar results. In the antioxidant measurement results, VD and FD showed higher antioxidant capacity, but considering cost-effectiveness, HD was the most available method for drying BSFL.

흰점박이꽃무지[Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe)]의 적정 사육 밀도를 구명하기 위해 상대적으로 발육기간이 긴 3령 유충을 대상으로 밀도 실험을 수행하였다. 3령 유충기부터 번데기까지의 발육기간과 3령 유충부터 성충까지의 발육기간은 모두 30마리 밀도에서 가장 짧았다. 하지만, 번데기에서 성충까지 걸리는 시간은 유의미한 차이가 없었다. 성충의 외형적 특성도 밀도 간 통계적으로 유의미한 차이가 나타났는데, 그중 20마리 밀도 조건에서 사육된 성충은 무게와 체장, 체폭이 가장 우량하였다. 암수의 외형적 특성 차이는 주로 20마리 조건에서 유의미하게 나타났다. 암컷은 밀도 조건에 영향을 받지 않았지만, 수컷의 경우는 모든 외형적 특성에서 밀도에 영향을 받는 것으로 분석되었으며, 특히 20마리 조건은 다른 조건보다 성충의 크기가 큰 것을 확인하였다. 결론적으로, 흰점박이꽃무지의 3령 유충은 3L 사육상자에 30마리 밀도 조건으로 사육하는 것이 효율적이며, 이를 통해 3령에서 성충까지의 발육기간을 단축할 수 있고, 사료 비용도 절감할 수 있다.