Encyrtidae, belonging to Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera), includes about 4,000 species in 460 genera worldwide. Many of the members are very important biological control agents of insect pests such as scale-insects (Hemiptera, Coccoidea). Many species have been relatively well studied in various taxonomic and biological fields because of economical and ecological importance of Encyrtidae. However, Korean encyrtids are poorly studied so far. In this presentation we will introduce the current status of taxonomy and biological characteristics of Encyrtidae. In addition further study plans are also presented.

담배가루이는 경제적으로 매우 중요한 농업 해충들 중의 하나이며, 전세계적으로 40개 이상의 종들로 구성된 종복합군(species complex) 으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 담배가루이 종복합군의 유전적 변이와 구성하는 종들의 수를 550개의 COI 염기서열들을 바탕으로 재평가하였 다. 담배가루이의 유전적 변이는 0% - 27.8%이며(평균 11.1%), 이는 담배가루이 종복합군이 서로 다른 속들 혹은 아과들에 속하는 다양한 종들 로 구성되어 있음을 나타낸다. 217개 COI 염기서열들을 바탕으로 분석된 계통수는 담배가루이 종복합군이 잠재적인 신종(Java)을 포함한 43개 종들로 구성되어 있고, 이 가운데 9종(Australia, Asia II 1, Asia II 6, Asia II 7, Asia II 10, Mediterranean, New world, New world 2, Sub Saharan Africa 1)의 종내 유전적 변이는 기존의 종구분 한계인 4.0%가 담배가루이 종복합군의 종들을 구분하는데 적합하며, 높은 종내 유전변이를 보이 는 종들은 은밀종과 관련이 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests in the world. In the present study, the taxonomic status of B. tabaci and the number of species composing the B. tabaci complex were determined based on 1,059 COI sequences of B. tabaci and 509 COI sequences of 153 hemipteran species. The genetic divergence within B. tabaci was conspicuously higher (on average, 11.1%) than interspecific genetic divergence within the respective genera of the 153 species (on average, 6.5%). This result indicates that B. tabaci is composed of multiple species that may belong to different genera or subfamilies. A phylogenetic tree constructed based on 212 COI sequences without duplications revealed that the B. tabaci complex is composed of a total of 31 putative species, including a new species, JpL. However, genetic divergence within six species (Asia II 1, Asia II 7, Australia, Mediterranean, New World, and Sub Saharan Africa 1) was higher than 3.5%, which has been used as a threshold of species boundaries within the B. tabaci complex. These results suggest that it is necessary to increase the threshold for species boundaries up to 4% to distinguish the constituent species in the B. tabaci complex.

Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the most important insect pests in the world. In the present study, the taxonomic status of B. tabaci and the number of species consisting of the B. tabaci complex were determined based on 1059 COI sequences of B. tabaci and 509 COI sequences of 153 hemipteran species. The genetic divergence within B. tabaci was conspicuously higher (onaverage,11.1%) than interspecific genetic divergence within the respective genera of the 153 hemipteran species (on average, 6.5%). This result indicates that B. tabaci is composed of multiple biological species that may belong to different genera or subfamilies. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on 212 COI sequences without duplications revealed that the B. tabaci complex is composed of a total of 31 putative species, including a new species, JpL. However, genetic divergences within five species, Asia III, Asia II 7, Mediterranean, New world, and Sub Saharan Africa 1, were higher than 3.5%, which has previously been used as a threshold of genetic boundary in distinguishing species of the B. tabaci complex. These results suggest the necessity to redefine the threshold for species boundaries to best distinguish the constituent species in the B.tabaci complex.

Korean freshwater turtles are divided into native turtles, Chinemys reevesii in Geoemydidae, Pelodiscus sinensis in Trionychidae, and imported turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans, T. s. scripta, Pseudemys rubriventris and Ocadia sinensis. In this study, we determined the distribution of Korean freshwater turtles based on a field study and literature study, and considered the taxonomic position of unidentified native turtles. The study was carried out between May 2010 and November 2011 during the day time, and the capturing tool used to collect turtles consisted of net and metal frame. C. reevesii and P. sinensis were found in 16 and 11 places, respectively. C. reevesii, which inhabits the Korean peninsula, is a taxonomically controversial species, but it is presumed that the turtle belongs to Mauremys. Moreover recent taxonomic studies of the soft-shell turtle have shown that the Korean native species is P. maackii, and P. sinensis was imported from abroad and has been in the natural habitats of Korea since 1970s. The exterior shape and skeletal form of P. maackii and P. sinensis are nearly similar. However, the skin color and yellow spots on the shell could be used to distinguish the two species.

The mites of the superfamily Eriophyoidea are of worldwide distribution, and invariably associated with plants. They are extremely small in size with average 200 ㎛ of adult body length ranging from 80 to 500 ㎛, and thus often invisible to the naked eyes without noticeable deformation and/or injury on the host plants. Their general appearance is rather worm-like, with an elongated and transversely annulated opisthosoma, and with only 2 pairs of legs having a empodial featherclaw instead of paired true claws. The extremely small size and secret habits of eriophyoid mites cause them to be ignored or overlooked, and make them little understood and appreciated, although they are obligatory plant feeding mites being distributed in most botanical biosphere of the world. Nevertheless, some species are of considerable economic significance as the tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici), Citrus rust mite (Aculops pelekassi), pear leaf rust mite (Phyllocoptes pyrivagrans), Castanopsis witches’ broom mite (Aceria kadonoi), Retusa fringe tree malformation mite (Aceria sp.) calls for a greater awareness of them in Korea. Besides, the eriophyoid mites from ornamental trees get to known to public, since the trees are planted along a street. Information on eriophyoid mites in Korea is often difficult to obtain. This was mainly due to the lack of taxonomic works done in Korea. Furthermore, some records on eriophyoid mites are not taxonomically based but just adopted neighboring countries’ records. Their original descriptions are frequently inadequate with focusing on the ecological aspects rather than taxonomic ones. So, some species including Aceria species from Lycium chinensis, in the light of recent knowledge of eriophyoid taxonomy, should be renamed and reclassified. Until now, more than 38 species in 17 genera of the family Eriophyidae have been reported in Korea, which is still relatively small number compared with those in neighboring countries; China (197 spp., in 60 gen), Japan (47 spp., in 19 gen), and Taiwan (75 spp., in 41 gen). Furthermore, none of the other families (Phytoptidae and Diptilomiopidae) have known yet. There is little doubt that more species await discovery in Korea. Considering the geographic distribution patterns, only 7 species among 38 species of Korean eriophyids are endemic. A total of 23 Korean eriophyid species are shared with Japan, 12 species with China, 5 species with Taiwan, 7 species with Russia, and 19 species with USA. It shows that the Korean eriophyid fauna seems to be similar to the Japanese fauna zoogeographically, and more cooperation between Japanese and Korean taxonomists is continuously needed in the eriophyoid field. On the other hand, more endemic and taxonomically important species are expected to be found in the Korean peninsular, since the eriophyoid mites is highly host specific and Korean peninsular is one of the most interesting areas with intense speciation processes. The upland and mountainous landscape (constituting 80% of the peninsula) favours the existence of multiple isolated habitats. The Korean peninsula is characterised by a high level of endemism among the species of higher vascular plants. Out of 2,898 plant species 407 are endemics (14%), including 224 endemic species in the southern and 107 endemic species in the northern part of the peninsula.

국내에 분포하는 대사초절에 속하는 3분류군의 외부형태형질을 분석하고 분자계통학적 연구를 수행하여 이들 간의 유연관계를 밝혔다. 대사초절 내의 기본종인 대사초의 외부형태학 특징을 재검토하여 기존 문헌과의 차이를 파악하였으며, 식물상 문헌 및 표본을 통해 국내 분포도를 작성하였다. 문헌에 언급된 형질들 중에서 잎의 형태는 생육지 조건에 따라 변이가 심하였지만, 지하경 생장 양상, 잎과 과낭의 털의 존재 등은 종수준에서 구분하는데 좋은 형질이었다. 분자계통학적 연구에서 털대사초는 독립된 종으로 처리되는 것을 지지하였다.