Despite concerns about the significant toxicity of copper pyrithione (CuPT) at environmental concentrations, effects of CuPT on benthic organisms have received little attention. Here, we analyzed the detrimental effects of CuPT at sublethal concentrations (1/50, 1/20, and 1/10 of the 96 h-LC50 value) for 14 days in the marine polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis. Reduced burrowing activity and significantly decreased the acetylcholinesterase activity in response to relatively high concentrations of CuPT were identified as CuPT-triggered cholinergic inhibition. The lipid peroxidation marker, malondialdehyde levels were dosedependently increased, whereas intracellular glutathione was depleted by relatively high concentrations. In the CuPT-treated polychaete, significant fluctuations in the enzymatic activities of the antioxidant defense system (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase) were observed with significantly modulated glutathione S-transferase activity. These results indicate that even sublethal levels of CuPT would have detrimental effects on the health status of the marine polychaete.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sülzer, is an important sap-sucking pest of many plants, including Chinese cabbage. The objective of this study was therefore (1) to determine the effects of sublethal concentrations of afidopyropen, sulfoxaflor, and spirotetramat on adult longevity and the fecundity of M. persicae, and (2) to study the feeding behavior of M. persicae on Chinese cabbage leaves treated with various concentrations of these three insecticides. Longevity and total fecundity of M. persicae adults were decreased at concentrations higher than LC30. Feeding behavior analyses using an electrical penetration graph showed that sublethal concentrations of afidopyropen, sulfoxaflor, and spirotetramat had significant effects on the duration of phloem ingestion.

To identify genes that commonly respond to the treatment of different insecticides and are responsible for the toleranceenhancement, transcriptomic profiles of larvae treated with sublethal doses of the five insecticides were compared withthat of untreated control. A total of 117,181 transcripts with a mean length of 662 bp were generated by de novo assembly,of which 35,329 transcripts were annotated. Among them, 125, 143, 182, 215 and 149 transcripts were determined tobe up-regulated whereas 67, 45, 60, 60 and 38 genes were down-regulated following treatments with these five insecticides.The most notable examples of commonly responding over-transcribed genes were two cytochrome P450 genes and ninecuticular protein genes. In contrast, several genes composing the mitochondrial energy generation system were significantlydown-regulated in all treated larvae. Considering the distinct structure and mode of action of the five insecticides tested,the differentially expressed genes identified in this study appear to be involved in general chemical defense at the initialstage of intoxication. Their possible roles in the tolerance/resistance development were discussed.

To identify genes that commonly respond to the treatment of different insecticides, 3rd instar larvae of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, were treated with sublethal doses (<LC10) of chlorantraniliprole, cypermethrin, dinotefuran, indoxacarb and spinosad via leaf dipping. Then, transcriptomic profiles of treated larvae were compared with that of untreated control. A total of 117,181 transcripts in average with a mean length of 662 bp were generated by de novo assembly, of which 35,329 transcripts were annotated. Among them, 207, 153, 336, 360, and 262 transcripts were determined to be up-regulated whereas 117, 47, 92, 115, and 81 genes were down-regulated following treatments with chlorantraniliprole, cypermethrin, dinotefuran, indoxacarb and spinosad, respectively. Finally, with the criteria of >10 X fold change (FC) and p < 0.05 or >4 X FC, p < 0.05 and q < 0.2, the genes commonly over-transcribed in all treated insects were selected and their over-transcription levels were confirmed by quantitative PCR. These commonly responding genes included three cytochrome P450 genes (Cyp303a1, Cyp6a20 and CYP9E2), three cuticle protein genes (LM-8, LM-19 and TM-A3A), lavesin-1, acyl-CoA D11 desaturase, glucose dehydrogenase, nose resistant to fluxetine protein 6, chorion peroxidase and protein yellow. As the five test insecticides have distinct structure and mode of action, the genes identified in this study were suggested to be involved in general chemical defense at the initial stage of intoxication. Their possible roles in tolerance and resistance development were further discussed.

Colony collapse disorder (CCD), a phenomenon of honeybees disappearance, has been reported since 2006. Chronic exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides, particularly imidacloprid, has been suggested to impair forager’s ability for foraging and be a main cause of CCD. Recently, it has been reported that imidacloprid induces insulin resistance in animal cell line by blocking glucose uptake. Similarly to human insulin, insulin-like peptide (ILP) of insects is involved in maintaining blood glucose contents in hemolymph by regulating the concentration of trehalose and glycogen. Therefore, we have hypothesized that sublethal concentration of neonicotinoid may affect the metabolic pathway of honey bees as well. We investigated the transcription levels of the genes involved in the insulin/insulin-like signaling (IIS) pathway, such as AmILP and AmInR, following an acute or a chronic dietary exposure of sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid to foragers. In both experiments, honeybees showed increased expression levels of ILP and InR in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that sublethal dose of imidacloprid likely upregulates IIS pathway, thereby rendering honey bees to become resistant to insulin.

Non-target predatory insects can be indirectly exposed to aerial pesticide spraying and fogging to control Monochmus beetles that transmit pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. We evaluated potential lethal or sublethal effects of thiacloprid on survival and behavior of a carpenter ant species, Camponotus japonicus Mayr. Field-collected ant colonies were directly exposed to several food items, such as thiacloprid-addicted Monochmus beetles, 10% sugar watered cotton balls contaminated by thiacloprid concentrations, and 10% sugar water. Dead beetle bodies caused no apparent adverse effect through dietary exposure in general, although a few ants were died with paralysis at colony level experiment. At individual level, most ant workers were died within 10 days compared to control group. In contrast, dietary exposure of ants to thiacloprid concentrations showed significant lethal effect with paralysis and impaired walking, especially at 10 and 50 mg/L thiacloprid concentrations. Some intoxicated ants recovered within a few days in 10 and 50 mg/L thiacloprid concentrations, but intoxicated ants were generally shown to be less responsible to enemy ants with low aggressive behavior. Implications for predicting hazards of thiacloprid to beneficial arthropods in pine forests are discussed.

The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae), is a major pest of soybean and tree fruit in Korea. To protect crops, chemical insecticides have been widely used. However, the effects of insecticides is not only reduce the pest population but also change of pest behavior. In this study, we tested the effects of two insecticides, etofenprox (pyrethroid) and acetamiprid (neonicotinoid), on the behavior of R. pedestris. Two insecticides were diluted with water based on the conventional spray dose. After exposed to insecticide residue, adult R. pedestris was put individually into a clean petri dish with soybean. The behavior of R. pedestris was video-recorded for 16 hours. The frequencies of approaching to food and feeding were compared to the untreated control group. R. pedestris exposed to etofenprox made more frequent approaching to the food, but those exposed to acetamiprid made less frequent approaching compared to the control group. When compared to the control group, the feeding frequency of acetamiprid-exposed group was significantly reduced but etofenprox-exposed group showed more frequent feeding activity. In both treatments, the feeding probability, calculated by feeding frequency divided by approaching frequency, was reduced compared to the control. We conclude that acetamiprid may protect crops by reducing the frequency of R. pedestris to approach and feed on crops.

Currently, the management of Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) relies mainly on insecticide application in most crop productions. However, there have been very few detailed studies concerning the potential behavioral effects of sublethal dose of insecticide. This study was conducted to address sublethal effects of five insecticides on the mobility of R. pedestris. Adult R. pedestris were individually exposed to dry residue of insecticides for 4 hours in laboratory. Tested insecticides were fenitrothion (organophosphate), etofenprox (pyrethroid), bifenthrin (pyrethroid), acetamiprid (neonicotinoid) and dinotefuran (neonicotinoid). After the exposure, vertical climbing ability and flight capacity of survived R. pedestris were evaluated and compared to water-treated control. First, the mortality of R. pedestris after the 4-h insecticide exposure was as follows: 10% for fenitrothion, 3.4% for dinotefuran, 3.4% for acetamiprid, 0% for etofenprox and 0% for bifenthrin. The vertical mobility of R. pedestris was affected differently by insecticides tested. Acetamiprid resulted in decrease (37%) in the vertical mobility, whereas dinotefuran caused increase (153%) in the ability compared to the control. There was no effect by three other insecticides on the vertical mobility. In general, tested insecticides did not affect the flight capacity of R. pedestris compared to untreated individuals. However, etofenprox resulted in increase (230%) in the flight capacity. The results of this study indicate that insecticide-treated but survived R. pedestris can show similar or even increased mobility compared to untreated individuals. This should be considered in designing insecticide application programs against of R. pedestris.

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover is an important sap-sucking pest of many pant, including cucumber and pepper. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of sublethal concentrations of two insecticides (imidacloprid and flonicamid) and the action mechanisms on the feeding behavior of A. gossypii. The median lethal concentrations (LC50) of imidacloprid and flonicamid for adult A. gossypii were 2.01 and 1.92 ppm, respectively. The sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid were 0.22 ppm (LC10) and 0.82 ppm (LC30), and those of flonicamid were 0.094 ppm (LC10) and 0.56 ppm (LC30). The developmental period of A. gossypii nymphs at LC30 was 3.6 days for both insecticide which shorter than controls (4.2 days). Adult longevities at LC10 and LC30 of imidacloprid were 15.2 and 13.6 days, respectively. Adult longevity at LC10 and LC30 of flonicamid was 11.1 and 9.9 days, respectively. Control adult longevity was 15.5 days. Total fecundity was decreased at both sublethal concentration of two insecticides. Feeding behavior analysis using an electrical penetration graph showed that sublethal doses of imidacloprid and flonicamid had significant effects on the duration of phloem ingestion. However, higher doses of flonicamid induced starvation by inhibition of phloem ingestion and higher doses of imidacloprid induced contact toxicity rather than inhibition of feeding behavior.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of flonicamid and thiamethoxam treated at sublethal concentration (LC10, LC30) on development period, adult longevity and fecundity and the feeding behaviour of Myzus persicae adult. Developmental period of M. Persicae nymph took 5.9 days in LC10, and 6.1 days in LC30 in both insecticides, comparing with control (5.7 days), it showed longer than those of the control, but there was no significance. Adult longevity treated at LC10 and LC30 of flonicamid was showed 13.2 and 13.7 days, respectively, and LC10 of thiamethoxam was examined as 14.7 days, it showed longer than control of 11.6 days. Mean daily fecundity exhibited higher in LC10 (3.1) and LC30 (3.1) of flonicamid than that of control (2.5), but thiamethoxam are not. Total fecundity exhibited higher in LC10 (41.8) and LC30 (43.0) of flonicamid, in LC10 (42.1) of thiamethoxam than that of control (29.5). Feeding behavior was examined using EPG (electrical penetration graph). EPG data indicated that flonicamid and thiamethoxam increased the duration of non-probing periods and decreased the duration of phloem ingestion.

The viability of Staphylococcus aureus, a significant cause of food poisoning in Korea, on TSA plates was determined after sublethal heating treatments and NaCl treatments. In addition, recovery levels of sublethally injured cells on TSA plates containing different concentrations of NaCl (TSAS) were investigated. The viability decreased significantly with increasing degree of sublethal heating treatments, but increases in NaCl treatment concentrations from 0 to 6% had little effect on the viability. After being sublethally treated at 55oC for 30 min, bacterial populations were reduced by 7.91, 7.97 and 7.99 log CFU/mL on 2, 4 and 6% TSAS, respectively. After being sublethally treated at 60oC for 30 min, bacterial populations were reduced by 6.46, 6.47 and 6.48 log CFU/mL on 2, 4 and 6% TSAS, respectively. Decimal reduction times (D-value) decreased with increasing NaCl treatment concentrations after sublethal heating at 55 and 60oC. These data imply that the S. aureus cells sublethally injured by insufficient heating processes had a lower recovery rate with increasing NaCl concentrations in the recovery media.

몇가지 살충제에 대한 파굴파리 충태별 약제 방제효과를 조사한 결과, 알 상태에서 엽면 살포시 spinosad, dimethoate, emamectin benzoate, cartap 등의 방제가가 83% 이상으로 효과적이었다. 유충에 대해서는 dimethoate와 cartap이 87% 이상의 살충활성을 나타내었다. Dimethoate와 cartap을 엽면살포 후 잔효력을 조사한 결과 dimethoate는 약제처리 후 3일까지 93.3%의 높은 활성을 유지하였다. 번데기에 대해서는 terbufos GR, cartap GR이 88.2% 이상의 살충활성을 보였으며, 성충에 대해서는 dimethoate와 cartap이 95%이상 살충활성을 나타내었다. 이상의 결과에서 알, 유충, 성충방제에는 dimethoate EC와 cartap SP, 번데기 방제에는 terbufos GR, cartap GR가 효과적이었다.