Six mosquito species in the Anopheles Hyrcanus group are known as vectors responsible for transmitting vivax malaria in South Korea. In this study, seasonal dynamics of Anopheles Hyrcanus group species and knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in malaria-endemic sites, Paju and Gimpo, were monitored over two years. In August 2023, all six species were observed simultaneously in one of the Paju collecting sites, and kdr mutations were newly identified in all species except Anopheles kleini. Although Anopheles pullus was revealed as a relatively resistant species among five species populations without kdr mutation via bioassays, there were no critical differences in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel sequence. These findings suggest variability in pyrethroid resistance mechanisms among Anopheles Hyrcanus Group species.

Over 350 species of Stathmopodidae have been reported worldwide, but due to their morphological similarities, there are many difficulties in species identification. To address these issues, various methods including larval, behavioral ecology, molecular techniques, and others have been utilized. In this study, we compared the resistance to pressure based on wing venation, which has not been extensively covered before, to further elucidate the differences between species. Type species, and one species from the genus reported in Korea, this study utilized Fusion 360 to create 3D models and visually represented resistance under the same pressure with colors. Colors derived from simulation results are extracted for trend analysis using PCA (Principal Component Analysis), and differences between groups formed through K-means clustering are analyzed.

This study aims to identify insect species relevant to medicolegal entomology in South Korea, to develop valuable forensic indicators for addressing legal challenges. We conducted carcass experiments with animals from 2015 to 2023 and analyzed domestic medicolegal literature. Species with uncertain taxonomic status or those recorded only once in experiments or literature were excluded. Our dataset includes observations from 185 carcasses, 24 criminal cases, and 468 autopsies. We identified a total of 254 carcass-associated species across 67 families and 8 orders. Of these species, 32 species consistently found on both human corpses and animal carcasses, suggesting their significance in forensic contexts. The order Diptera, comprising 53.13% of these taxa, was predominantly represented by the families Calliphoridae (70.59%), Muscidae (17.65%), and Sarcophagidae (11.76%). Coleoptera constituted 46.87% of the identified taxa, with the families Silphidae (53.33%), Dermestidae (26.67%), Cleridae (6.67%), Scarabaeidae (6.67%), and Staphylinidae (6.67%) being most significant. Lucilia sericata was the most frequently found species in autopsies of corpses found indoors (51.95%) and outdoors (14.77%), followed by Phormia regina, Chrysomya megacephala, Chrysomya pinguis and Lucilia illustris, highlighting their potential as forensic markers. This comprehensive study provides crucial baseline data for medicolegal entomologists in South Korea, identifying key insect species as forensic indicators.

Xenorhabdus와 Photorhabdus 속은 각각 곤충병원성 선충인 Steinernema와 Heterorhabditis에 공생하는 공생세 균이다. 감염성 선충의 유충은 공생세균을 표적 곤충의 혈강에 전달하고, 여기서 세균이 증식하여 숙주 선충의 발달을 돕는다. 이러한 선충과 세균 복합체의 성공적 공생관계는 세균의 이차대사산물을 통한 숙주의 면역억제 에 달려져 있다고 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 서로 다른 살충력을 보이는 6종의 Xenorhabdus를 확보하고 이러한 차이가 세균의 성장속도와 NRPS (Non ribosomal peptide synthease)에 의해 생성되는 세균의 이차대사산물 발현에 서 기원한다는 것을 확인하였다. 서로 다른 균주들은 콩명나방 (Tenebrio molitor)에 대한 살충력에 차이를 가지고 있었다. 이러한 세균들은 TSB 배지에서는 세균 성장 속도에 차이가 존재하지 않았지만 콩명나방 혈강 내에서는 세균의 성장 속도에 차이가 존재하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 각 세균의 이차대사산물 추출물을 통한 곤충의 면역 억제 실험 결과 PLA2 활성 억제, 세포독성 능력들이 살충력과 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 이차대 사산물의 경우 많은 물질이NRPS (Non ribosomal peptide synthease)에 의해 생성되므로 각 세균 별 NRPS의 유전자 발현을 보았을 때 흥미롭게도 살충력이 더 높은 스트레인의 세균이 일부 NRPS 유전자의 발현이 더 높은 것으로 나타났다. NRPS에 의해 합성되는 물질을 포함한 세균의 이차대사산물의 차이를 서로 비교하기 위하여 이차대사 산물 추출액을 GC-MS/MS를 이용하여 분석하였다. 본 연구를 통해 곤충병원세균에 살충력의 기원이 NRPS를 통해 합성되는 이차대사산물에 있다는 것을 확인하였으며 이를 이용한 다양한 NRPS 유래 물질 연구는 신규 살충 물질 개발에 들어가는 비용과 시간을 획기적으로 줄일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

Pyrethroid resistance in cockroach populations has been a public health challenge since the 1950s. The pyrethroid resistance in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, is primarily attributed to knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations (E434K, C764R, and L993F) in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel gene (vssc). In this study, the pyrethroid resistance state of the German cockroach in the Republic of Korea (ROK) was assessed by analyzing the frequencies of kdr mutations using one-step PCR with total RNA. The results revealed that among the 25 populations examined, 14 populations exhibited the L993F kdr mutation, while no other mutations were detected. Since other cockroach species are also commonly found in human dwellings in ROK, the vssc genes were cloned from four other species, including Blattella nipponica, Periplaneta americana, Periplaneta japonica, and Periplaneta fuliginosa. Based on the genomic DNA (gDNA) sequences obtained from the vssc cloning, primer sets were designed to amplify the vssc fragment spanning the L993F mutation for each species and used to monitor the development of pyrethroid resistance in cockroach populations in the ROK. The study will facilitate the implementation of a nationwide monitoring program to assess cockroach resistance and select suitable alternatives.

Spodoptera eridania and S. ornithogalli (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which are polyphagous pests that damage various crops such as tomatoes and beans are regulated quarantine species that are highly likely to invade South Korea. Therefore, it is crucial to promptly and accurately identify the presence of S. eridania and S. ornithogalli in crop fields to effectively eradicate as a regulated quarantine species. In this study, we developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, which allows for rapid in-field identification. To develop the LAMP　assay, we selected target species-specific genomic regions from the whole-genome sequences of one target and 13 other lepidopteran species. We validated each five and six primer sets that consistently produced positive reactions in S. eridania and S. ornithogalli, respectively. To test the sensitivity of the each locus, LAMP reactions were performed using various reaction times using crude DNA, which was extracted from various types of adult tissues. All sensitivity tests were also successful.

깡충거미과의 모습을 의태하여 시각적 포식자인 깡충거미로부터 자신을 보호하는 전략은 여러 나비목 곤충 에서 진화하였다. 하지만 나비목 곤충이 깡충거미 간의 의사소통 신호를 의태한다는 가설은 제안된 바 없다. 본 연구에서는 깡충거미과의 구애/영역성 행동을 의태하는 것으로 추정되는 붉은꼬마꼭지나방(Atkinsonia ignipicta)의 빗살 모양 더듬이와 추켜 올린 다리가 포식을 단념시키는 의태 신호로 작동하는지 실험적으로 검증 하였다. 깡충거미 의태라 추측되는 붉은꼬마꼭지나방의 형태적 및 행동적 특성들을 단계적으로 제외한 뒤 포식 자(흰눈썹깡충거미, Evarcha albaria)와의 조우 시 생존을 비교하였다. 연구 결과, 붉은꼬마꼭지나방은 비슷한 크기의 비-의태 나방에 비해 포식자의 공격을 덜 받았으며, 더듬이나 다리 중 하나라도 결여되었을 때 흰눈썹깡충 거미의 공격이 증가하였다. 이는 붉은꼬마꼭지나방의 더듬이와 다리 모두가 시각적 방어의 중요한 신호로 작동 한다는 것을 시사한다. 하지만 흰눈썹깡충거미가 붉은꼬마꼭지나방을 향해 구애/영역성 행동을 보이지 않았다 는 점에서 깡충거미의 낮은 공격 빈도가 같은 깡충거미 종류로 오인해서인지 다른 이유에서인지는 불투명하다. 그러나 사층깡충거미(Marpissa pulla)는 붉은꼬마꼭지나방을 상대로 영역성 행동을 잦은 빈도로 보였으며, 이는 붉은꼬마꼭지나방의 형태가 깡충거미 의태 효과를 가진다는 것을 보여준다.

Spodoptera 속의 담배거세미나방, 열대거세미나방 및 파밤나방은 여러 나라에 분포하는 광식성 해충으로, 본 연구에서는 이들의 페로몬 및 식물냄새물질과 관련한 화학통신시스템에 대해 이해하기 위해 냄새감각기의 종류와 분포, 냄새활성물질 동정 및 야외행동 반응에 대한 연구를 진행하였다. 주사전자현미경 관찰을 통해, 세 종 나방의 암, 수컷 촉각에 여러 종류의 냄새감각기가 존재하며, 형태적으로 구분되는 종특이적 또는 성특이적 냄새감각기들이 존재한다는 것을 확인하였다. GC-EAD 실험을 통해 세 종 나방에 냄새활성을 나타내는 식물 냄새물질과 페로몬 관련 물질들을 동정하고, 이들을 개별 또는 조합하여 야외 트랩실험을 통해 행동활성을 검정 한 결과, 이 중 여러 물질이 담배거세미나방과 파밤나방의 성페로몬에 대한 유인행동 반응을 저해하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 열대거세미나방은 발생이 저조하여 야외에서의 행동반응을 확인할 수 없었다.

Background: The biological information of fish, which include reproduction, is the prerequisite and the basis for the assessment of fisheries. Methods: The aim of this work was to know the reproductive biology with the first sexual maturity (TL50) and the spawning period for 58 mainly fish species in the waters around La Réunion Island (Western Indian Ocean). Twenty families belonging to the Actinopterygii were represented (acanthuridae, berycidae, bramidae, carangidae, cirrhitidae, gempylidae, holocentridae, kyphosidae, labridae, lethrinidae, lutjanidae, malacanthidae, monacanthidae, mullidae, polymixiidae, pomacentridae, scaridae, scorpaenidae, serranidae, sparidae; 56 species; n = 9,751) and two families belonging to the Elasmobranchii (squalidae, centrophoridae; 2 species; n = 781) were sampled. Between 2014 and 2022, 10,532 individuals were sampled covering the maximum months number to follow the reproduction periods of these species. Results: TL50 for the males and the females, respectively, ranged from 103.9 cm (Acanthurus triostegus ) to 1,119.3 cm (Thyrsitoides marleyi ) and from 111.7 cm (A. triostegus ) to 613.1 cm (Centrophorus moluccensis ). The reproduction period could be very different between the species from the very tight peak to a large peak covered all months. Conclusions: Most species breed between October and March but it was not the trend for all species around La Réunion Island.

Bolivian tuber species like potato (Solanum tuberosum), native potato (Solanum sp), Oca (Oxalis tuberosa Molina), Olluco (Ullucus tuberosus Caldas), and Isaño (Tropaeolum turosum Ruíz & Pav.) hold extraordinary nutritional value and cultural significance, particularly within the Andean region. This study examined the mineral composition of Bolivian tuber species as an essential step toward understanding their nutritional significance and potential contributions to addressing dietary deficiencies. The research involved detailed analysis of diverse tuber cultivars, uncovering distinct mineral profiles across species. Native potato shows high levels of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) levels, alongside moderate micronutrients like iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn). Commercial potatoes exhibited prominence in N, P, and K, with moderate Fe, Zn, and manganese (Mn) levels. Oca, Isaño, and Papa Lisa displayed unique mineral concentrations, offering potential nutritional benefits. Intricate correlations and significant variances among elements highlighted the diverse mineral compositions among these tuber species. Multivariate analyses emphasized distinct mineral profiles unique to each species, revealing significant compositions of isaño and papa lisa's. The Multitrait Genotype- Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) identified isaño jaspeado, isaño and an unnamed native potato, AXT2, as promising ideotypes due to their exceptional mineral compositions. These findings provide comprehensive insights into Bolivian tuber species' various mineral compositions, underscoring their nutritional significance and potential in targeted breeding for improved dietary support and enhanced food security.

The ecosystem provides a diverse array of environmental conditions for organisms, and only those that are capable of successfully adapting to these conditions within their habitats can endure, thrive, and proliferate. Further, the environmental conditions within these habitats can significantly affect the bioavailability of chemicals that are introduced therein, thus resulting in varied adverse impacts on the organisms. The present study aims to evaluate the sensitivity of Yuukianura szeptyckii - a species adapted to riparian - to heavy metals following ISO guideline 11276, with the objective of assessing its potential as an indicator species for ecotoxicological evaluations in riparian habitats. The findings revealed that cadmium and copper both had significant toxic effects depending on their concentrations. For cadmium, the LC50 was 280 mg kg-1, EC50 was 66 mg kg-1, and NOEC and LOEC were 25 and 50 mg kg-1, respectively. For copper, the LC50 was 911 mg kg-1, EC50 was 151 mg kg-1, and LOEC was 50 mg kg-1. Comparative analysis with previous results for the international standard species Folsomia candida and the domestic standard species Allonychiurus kimi indicated that Y. szeptyckii exhibited even greater sensitivity to toxicity values. The adverse effects on survival and reproduction were closely associated with the influx concentration of heavy metals in their bodies. Altogether, the results suggest that Y. szeptyckii is a sensitive species for ecotoxicological assessments in riparian habitats, thus making it suitable as an indicator species, particularly in riparian ecosystems that are characterized by relatively high humidity conditions.