• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.553-557
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• 2007

In order to detect and identify the most toxic Bacillus thuringiensis strains against pests, we isolated a B. thuringiensis strain (Bn1) from Balaninus nucum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the most damaging hazelnut pest. Bn1 was characterized via morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. The isolate was serotyped, and the results showed that Bn1 was the B. thuringiensis serovar, kurstaki (H3abc). The scanning electron microscopy indicated that Bn1 has crystals with cubic and bipyramidal shapes. The Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) revealed the presence of the cry1 and cry2 genes. The presence of Cry1 and Cry2 proteins in the Bn1 isolate was confirmed via SDS-PAGE, at approximately 130 kDa and 65 kDa, respectively. The bioassays conducted to determine the insecticidal activity of the Bn1 isolate were conducted with four distinct insects, using spore-crystal mixtures. We noted that Bn1 has higher toxicity as compared with the standard B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (HD-1). The highest observed mortality was 90% against Malacosoma neustria and Lymantria dispar larvae. Our results show that the B. thuringiensis isolate (Bn1) may prove valuable as a significant microbial control agent against lepidopteran pests.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2009

An arthropod community in a rice ecosystem was surveyed to determine the impact of two insecticides frequently used in Korean rice ecosystems: carbofuran 3GR, which targets the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the early season and fenobucarb EC, which targets the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens ($St{\aa}l$) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) in the mid- and late seasons, respectively. Overall, the application of the insecticides reduced density of total arthropods by 48.4% compared to the untreated field, but their impact on each functional group were different. Carbofuran GR treatment on 1 June reduced the L. oryzophilus population significantly until mid-season. The population of filterfeeding chironomids was also reduced by 50%, whereas the spider population was less disturbed. Fenobucarb EC treatment on 16 August significantly reduced N. lugens and detrivorous entomobryid populations until the late season. Both web-building and wandering spiders were also significantly disturbed by fenobucarb EC although the impact differed according to their behavioral differences. While the population of web-building spiders significantly decreased over time, that of wandering spiders recovered from the disturbance a few weeks later.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 1997

A matrix model of rice weevil population based on degree day (DD) was constructed. The basic matrix model predicted on exponential jncrcase of the adult weevil density and the finite rate of increase(h) of the population was estimated to be 2.155/100DD. Adult density simulated by the matrix model including intraspecific competition showed a damped oscillation over time and reached at the stationary level of 530 at 69, 300DD. The experimental population showed similar features to that of the model. But there were some differences in the highest density and period of adult oscillation. The differences could largely be caused by the assumption of the model; resource constancy.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.176-179
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• 1990

Seasonal occurrence in each stages of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel, was studied in paddy field transplanted on May 25, Siehung, 1989. The peak of overwintered adults was late May an that of newly emerged adults was early August. Oviposition occurred in late May and late June and its peak was observed on early June. Larvae were observed from early June to early August and pupation occurred from early July to late August. The first adults of newly emerged rice water weevil was observed on early July and its emergence peak was early August.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 1990

The banana insect pest species and their damages were surveyed from 9 vinyl hoses of Cheju Island on August in 18. A total of 5 pest species wre found ; banana root weevil (BRW) Cosmopolites sordidus Germar (Curculionidae) a wireworm Melonotus sp. (Elateridae), a spider mite teranychid sp. (Tetranychidae), mulberry mealybud Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana)(Pseudococcidae), and common cutworm Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)(Noctuidae). Among them, the BRW which attacked the rhizome of banana plant was newly recorded from Korea. It is assumed that the weevil would be introduced from Japan, Philippine or SriLan-Ka wiht the banana seedlings imported during early 1980's.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2008

Recently, Platypus koryoensis has been reported as a major pest of oak trees in Korea which can introduce the pathogenic fungus(Raffaelea sp.) by making galleries into the heartwood of the tree. As the beetle has developed its effective drilling mouthpart enough to make tunnels, we have analyzed the fine structural aspects of the mouthpart using the field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) to reveal its mechano-dynamic characteristics. The mouthparts of this ambrosia beetle which consist of a labrum, a pair of mandibles, a pair of maxillae and the labium exhibit typical morphology of mycophagous coleopteran beetles and have those characteristics of chewing mouthparts that can excavate galleries in the hardwood. Both of maxillary and labial palpi have the functions of direct the food to the mouth and hold it while the mandibles chew the food. The distal ends of these palpi are flattened and have shovel-like setae. Females have larger maxillary palpi and a larger gular region than males in general.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2021

The effects of forest type and fragmentation of forests by a road on the beetle community were investigated in the Gwangneung Forest, South Korea. Beetles were collected monthly using pitfall traps and by sweeping at 16 sites (eight in coniferous forests and eight in deciduous forests) for one year from April 1993 to April 1994, excluding winter. A total of 17,616 beetles belonging to 271 species from 39 families were collected. Among them, Synuchus cycloderus was the dominant species, with 14,060 individuals accounting for 80% of the total population. The influence of forest type (coniferous and deciduous) or sampling region (fragmented by a road) on species richness(number of species) was observed. We found that species richness was substantially different depending on the sampling method and taxa used. Beetles collected using pitfall traps responded more sensitively to habitat types than those collected by sweeping. Four dominant families differently responded to forest fragmentation and forest types. Carabidae was influenced by forest fragmentation, whereas Staphylinidae and Curculionidae were influenced by forest types. Chrysomelidae was not influenced.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.145-151
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• 2000

The mouthparts of the Apionidae are almost of the same structures as in the Curculionidae feeding soft plant tissues, and two subfamilies in the current system are well supported by their structures. The subfamilies Apioninae and Nanophyinae are clearly characterized as follows. In Apioninae, clypeal margin sinuate; mandibles meet anteropo-steriorly when retracted and more or less curved internally; maxillary palpi two-segmented, with large palpiger; labial palpi one-segmented; prementum parallel-sided, longer than wide. In Nanophyinae, clypeal margin with two to three notches in the middle; mandibles meet anteroposteriorly when retracted and more or less curved internally; maxillary palpi three-segmented, palpiger about as great as stipes; labial palpi two-segmented, separated to each other by the apical protrusion of prementum; prementum about as long as wide. [Insecta, Coleoptera, Comparative morphology, Mouthparts, Apionidae].

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.329-334
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• 2003

To study the interaction between rice weevil and storage molds, the preference of rice weevil to the four mold species (Aspergilus candidus, A. niger, A. flavus and Penicillium spp.) and the resulting reproduction of the rice weevil were observed. The rice weevil preferred rice grains contaminated with the molds to autoclaved ones regardless of the mold species tested. Among the four mold species, A. candidus and Penicillium sp. were highly preferred than the others. Reproduction of the rice weevil was higher on the grains contalminated with A. candidus and Penicillium sp., than on autoclaved ones, but was lower on the grains contaminated with A. flavus. The partial disagreement between preference and reproduction of the rice weevil might be a suggestion that both the weevil behavior adapting nutritional requirements and the process of the long intensive coadaptation of the rice weevil and storage molds requiring similar moisture niche are the major components of the population interaction between the weevil and molds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2013

A novel bioactive molecule produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Bn1 (Bt-Bn1), isolated from a common pest of hazelnut, Balaninus nucum L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was determined, purified, and characterized in this study. The Bt-Bn1 strain was investigated for antibacterial activity with an agar spot assay and well diffusion assay against B. cereus, B. weinhenstephenensis, L. monocytogenes, P. savastanoi, P. syringae, P. lemoignei, and many other B. thuringiensis strains. The production of bioactive molecule was determined at the early logarithmic phase in the growth cycle of strain Bt-Bn1 and its production continued until the beginning of the stationary phase. The mode of action of this molecule displayed bacteriocidal or bacteriolytic effect depending on the concentration. The bioactive molecule was purified 78-fold from the bacteria supernatant with ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and HPLC, respectively. The molecular mass of this molecule was estimated via SDS-PAGE and confirmed by the ESI-TOFMS as 3,139 Da. The bioactive molecule was also determined to be a heat-stable, pH-stable (range 6-8), and proteinase K sensitive antibacterial peptide, similar to bacteriocins. Based on all characteristics determined in this study, the purified bacteriocin was named as thuricin Bn1 because of the similarities to the previously identified thuricin-like bacteriocin produced by the various B. thuringiensis strains. Plasmid elution studies showed that gene responsible for the production of thuricin Bn1 is located on the chromosome of Bt-Bn1. Therefore, it is a novel bacteriocin and the first recorded one produced by an insect originated bacterium. It has potential usage for the control of many different pathogenic and spoilage bacteria in the food industry, agriculture, and various other areas.