• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.113-116
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• 2013

The current status of Korean jewel beetle, Chrysochroa coreana is reported from the data collected in the five-year field survey (2008-2012). Despite the previous assumption of its endangered status, the beetle was recently found in the southwestern part of Korea frequently. However the local population was suffering from the inadequate management of its host plants, Celtis sinensis Persson. This study reports the restoration possibility of the beetle by the adequate management of its host plants.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2014

The phylogenetic analysis was carried out to find out the validity of Chrysochroa coreana as a new species. The insect specimens were collected at Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Shizuoka, Japan. Partial region (532 bp) of COI was amplified and sequenced. The sequences were aligned and then analyzed. Based on the Kimura-2-parameter method, we calculated genetic distances among them. It indicated that the Korean individual of C. fulgidissima was closely related to Taiwan one with relatively low genetic distance (0.083). On the other hand, the Japanese individual was remotely related with those of Korean (0.192) and Taiwan (0.183) individuals. To clarify if the populations of C. fulgidissima from Korea, Taiwan, and Japan are different at the level(s) of subspecies, species, or genus, it is necessary that more samples of the members of the family Buprestidae should be collected and genetically analyzed.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.274-279
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• 2016

Aphanisticus congener is a newly recorded buprestid (Coleoptera) insect pest of turfgrass in Korea. This buprestid pest was initially found from turfgrass conservation site in a greenhouse in Jinju, Gyeongnam province, Korea in July, 2014. The Aphanisticus in the family Buprestidae is a leaf miner. A. congener is the close species of A. aeneus which was firstly reported as sugarcane leaf sucker in India. A. congener was active from early July to late August in the greenhouse. Damage by the insect led to drying out and browning of turfgrass leaf because larva fed on cell sap of leaves and adult fed on leaf surface. A. congener damaged Zoysia japonica, Z. sinica, Conodon dactylon, and Poa pratensis when adults were artificially released into potted turfgrasses in the laboratory. In green house, A. congener damaged Z. japonica, Z. macrostachya, Z. matrella, Z. sinica, Conodon dactylon, and hybrid zoysiagrass. However, no damage symptoms were observed from the same turfgrass accessions in the nearby field of the greenhouse. Thus, the new coleopteran pest may be a warm-adapted pest for turfgrass, damaging turfgrass leaf only in warmer conditions.