Nutrient acquisition by insect herbivores affect all aspect of the the lifespan of individauls. For seed-sucking insect herbivores, they face challenges with nutrient acquisition due to requirement for extra-oral digestion of seed contents into a readily-ingestible state. In this study, we demonstrated environmentally-transmitted Caballeronia insecticola allow seed-sucking R. pedestris to overcome challenges with extra-oral digestion. Through the evaluation, first, we found symbiotic insects exhibited enhanced feeding efficiency by consuming significantly larger amount of food per feeding attempt compared to apo-symbiotic insects (P<0.05). Then, we observed feeding behavior modification in the symbiotic insects from the behavior tracking evaluation. Symbiotic insects displayed dichotomic behavior which can be generally divided into early focused feeding and later subdued resting periods. By contrast, apo-symbiotic insects displayed unordered behavior by frequent switches between feeding and walking behavior.

The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, is one of major hemipteran pests against the soybean, Glycine max in Korea. In previous study, it was suggested that water-taking in the first instar nymphal stage of R. pedestris is certainly necessary for successful ecdysis and their survival. To investigate water-taking behavior of the first instar nymphs of R. pedestris on plant, electrical penetration graphic patterns were analysed while R. pedestris fed on the napa cabbage leaf, Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis by using EPG system. In the result, a X-waveform was dominantly observed for average 42.0 min out of total recording time (120 min). There was significant positive correlation (r = 0.457, P = 0.000452, n = 55) between body weight increase and cumulative durations of X-waveform. In addition, histological observation of cross-sections indicated that stylet tip in the plant tissue during X-waveform period is located nearby xylem cells, suggesting that X-waveform is closely related to xylem sap feeding behavior of R. pedestris in plant.

The bean bug is one of major hemipteran pests against the soybean, Glycine max in Korea. Gene expression regulation technologies such as RNA interference and gene editing have emerged as a next generation pest control strategy in agriculture. To search genes effective to feeding inhibition with exogenous dsRNA, a total of 26,761 transcripts were obtained from salivary glands of the bean bug and several target gene candidates such as GPCR, OBP, and CSP were profiled in this study. On the other hand, 1st instar nymphs of the bean bug after hatching were highly attracted to water and absorbed about 701.5 ± 137.72 ㎍/individual/day, suggesting that it could be a practical way for RNA interference by feeding exogenous dsRNA dissolved in water. These preliminary results are expected to be helpful to investigate novel pest control strategy of R. pedestris in the future.

Although expression of foreign genes in a crop species has been target techniques for powerful protection against insect pests, classical breeding programs using varietal resistance of a crop are still being processed. It is, however, frequently difficult to find key products expressed from resistance-related genes in the variety, and those action mechanism. Here, an unterminated story about seed of a mungbean (Vigna radiata) variety with high resistance against the adzuki bean weevil and the bean bug is introduced. The two insects cannot survive on seeds of the variety, although they well develop on susceptible ones. Molecular markers linked to the resistance were selected through BAC library screening and near isogenic lines, and finally a bruchid resistance gene was suggested after map-based cloning approaches. Starvation and chemicals were suggested for a resistant mechanism and a related factor through feeding and behavior experiments, respectively. The seed flour was extracted with organic solvents, and isolated into several fractions on chromatography. Several peaks on HPLC in a fraction were related with the high mortality of the bean bug. A partial structure in an isolated chemical was observed before full identification.

Sensory system of insect is important for their fitness in the environment. Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is a major pest of bean plants and some fruit trees in Korea, Japan, China, and South Asian countries. This study was conducted to investigate morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla of R. pedestris, using scanning electron microscopy. Antennae of R. pedestris was 11 and 9.84 mm in length in male and female, respectively, and consists of four segments; scape, pedicel, flagellum 1 and 2 (F1 and F2). Five types of sensilla (s.) trichodea, four types of s. basiconica, two types of s. chaetica, and one type of s. coeloconica were preliminary identified in both sexes of adult R. pedestris, based on their size, shape, presence of socket and surface structure. Three types of trichoid sensilla, four types of basiconic sensilla, one type of chaetic sensilla and coeloconic sensilla had numerous pores along the surface of the sensilla, suggesting their olfactory function. Eight types of sensilla (3 trichoid, 2 basiconic, a chaetic and a coeloconic) showed a distinct socket structure at the base of each sensillum. Different types of sensilla showed different distribution along the antennal segments. Two types of trichoid sensilla and two types of basiconic sensilla were distributed on scape, pedicel and F1 flagella subsegment. However, the distribution of eight other types of sensilla was limited to one of two flagella subsegments.

Symbiotic bacteria are common in insects. Because symbiotic bacteria are known to intimately affect the various aspects of insect host biology, ideally insects can be controlled by manipulating their symbiont. However, the attempts to control insects through their symbiont have been very limited. The paucity of the insect pest control using their symbiont is most likely due to the poor understanding of the symbiotic interactions between host insect and symbiont, which is attributed to the difficulty in cultivation of insect symbionts. However, the recently established bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, symbiotic system provides good opportunities to study insect’s symbiont in molecular level through their cultivable symbionts. Bean bugs acquire genus Burkholderia cells from environment and harbor them as their gut symbionts in the specialized posterior midgut. The genome of the Burkholderia symbiont was sequenced, and the genomic information has been used to generate the genetically manipulated Burkholderia symbiont strains. After orally administering the mutant Burkholderia symbionts into bean bugs for symbiotic association, the bacterial colonization levels in the host gut and host phenotypes were analyzed. As a result, we have identified novel symbiotic factors necessary for establishing successful association with host. Our recent understandings on the bacterial symbiotic factors demonstrate a great possibility to control the bean bug pest using genetically modified Burkholderia symbiont.

톱다리개미허리노린재 (Riptortus pedestris) 상용 집합페로몬을 이용하여 포획할 때 유인되어지는 거리를 규명하고 이를 이용한 대량포획으로 콩 피해 경감 효과를 조사하였다. 집합페로몬 트랩의 재포획 비율은 최초 방사 지점에서 40 m 이내의 트랩에서는 전체 재포획 개체의 76.1%, 80 m 이내에서는 89.0%가 포획 되었으며, 트랩 설치 방위 간에 재포획 개체수는 큰 차이가 없었다. 대량 포획을 통한 피해 경감 효과를 알아보기 위해 집합페로몬 트랩을 농가 포장에 설치한 결과, 트랩수가 증가 할수록 톱다리개미허리노린재 총 포획수는 직선적으로 증가하였다. 페로몬 트랩 당 포획 할당 면적이 770 m2인 포장에서 10주당 수량이 261.8 g 으로 가장 높았으나, 트랩 당 할당 면적과 수량과의 관계에는 일정한 경향이 없었다. 트랩 당 포획 할당 면적에 따른 종자 형태 비율은 트랩 당 포획 할당 면적이 385 m2와 770 m2 인 포장에서 건전한 A형 종자의 비율이 62% 근처로 높았고 약한 피해립인 B형 종자의 비율이 27% 근처로 가장 낮았다. 톱다리개미허리노린재 집합페로몬 트랩을 이용한 피해 경감 효과는 포장 면적 385∼770 m2 당 1개를 포장 주변에 적절히 설치 운용 한다면 건전립의 비율을 높이고 약한 피해립의 비율을 어느 정도 감소시킬 수 있는 수단으로 사용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Soybean seed injury was analyzed in the experiments in which the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris(Hemiptera: Alydidae), was released into screen-caged pots containing full seed stage(R6) of soybean. When the different stages of insects, from the 3rd instar nymphs to adults, were released into pots during 8 days in soybean R6 stage, soybean seeds with injury marks (B-type seeds) increased. The weight reduction ratio in B-type seeds was highest in the injury by the 5th instar nymphs, while the daily-produced number ratio of B-type seeds was small in the treatment. In the injury by the different number of adult released into pots, 4, 8, 16 adults caused a significant increase of B-type seeds, while 16 adults caused the significant increase of the deformed (C-type) seeds. In the injury by the different release period of adults, the total number of pods was not significantly different among treatments, while the total seed number harvested was significantly small in the release for 48 days. The release for 8 and 16 days caused a significant increase of B-type seeds, while the release for 48 days caused the increase of C-type seeds. The results indicated that injury of soybean R6 stage by the bean bug produced soybean seeds with distinct injury marks at relatively low density and during short term attack period, while it produced deformed seeds at high density and during long attack period.

A bacterial colony was isolated from the gut of the bean bug, Riptortus clavatus. From morphological and biochemical tests, the bacterial isolate showed the highest similarity to Staphylococcus succinus. DNA sequence of 16S rRNA gene of the bacterium supported the identification. Oral administration of penicillin G to adults of R. clavatus gave a dose-dependent mortality of adults of R. clavatus to adults along with significant decrease of the bacterial population in the gut. Similarly, three metabolites (benzylideneacetone, proline-tyrosine, and acetylated phenylalanine-glycine-valine) derived from an entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, also inhibited growth of the gut bacterial population and gave significant mortalities to R. clavatus. These results suggest that a gut bacterial population classified as Staphylococcus sp. is required for survival of R. clavatus and that the three bacterial metabolites had toxic effects on the bugs due to their antibacterial properties.

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) were analyzed using GC and GC-MS, and compared with developmental stages of the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris. Carbon numbers on each developmental stages differed from 14-19 in eggs to 4th nymph, 25 in 5th nymph, and over 30 in last nymph that until adult emergence. Carbon numbers are increased to 16-17 carbons over time in newly emerged adults, 18-22 in 1 and 3 days after emergence, respectively; 23-27 in 6 days after emergence; approximately 30 in over 10 days after emergence. Carbon numbers increased as passed days after emergence. Riptortus pedestris consisted of n-nonacosane on almost all developmental stages, and followed by n-hentriacontane and 13,17-;15,19-demethyltritriacontane. Eggs, however, consisted of unknown compounds with high proportion and followed by n-heptacosane, and newly emerged adults also has a high proportion of n-heptacosane. From the above results, CHCs on developmental stages of the bean bug consist of n-alkane with saturated hydrocarbons (36-65 %), followed mono- or di- methylalkanes. However, newly emerged female and male adults mostly consisted of methyl-alkane. The major constituents of CHCs on the developmental stages of Riptortus pedestris is differently proportioned, but hardly showed the difference in their composition.

Oviposition preference of the bean bug, Riptortus clavatus to sites on a plant and within a field, to plants at different developmental stages, and to different leguminous germplasms was observed. The insect layed its eggs mainly on the back surface of leaf in the upper half of plant in both observation from oviposition cage and soybean field. The egg number in fields were observed at a statistically-same rate in marginal and inside area, and at a median value of one egg per leaf in oviposited leaves. Full seed stage of soybean hardly affected oviposition preference of the insect. A statistically-significant difference in oviposition to different leguminous germplasms was observed.