• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.58 no.3
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 2019

While the darkling beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is considered a pest of stored products, it does not pose a significant economic threat to this industry. The grains these beetles feeding on are often already damaged. However, the beetle is now being treated as the foremost premise pest in the poultry industry in many countries of the world. Recently, the darkling beetle has also infested in broiler chicken houses of Korea. The problems caused by this pest destroy the insulate facilities of poultry houses, reduce chick's overall performance, transmit pathogenic organisms, and have been leading to substantial economic losses for poultry producers. Therefore, we conducted surveys on the status of infestation and damage of this pest in broiler chicken houses. Because there is no simple one step process that will completely eliminate darkling beetle populations from broiler facilities, we would like to outline further studies on the proper control measures.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.249-253
• /
• 2008

We conducted field and laboratory observations of the life histories and fungal hosts of the darkling beetle, Platydema nigroaeneum Motschulsky. P. nigroaeneum, a fungivorous tenebrionid beetle, was a widespread inhabitant of fungi on deciduous trees (Quercus, Salix, Alnus and Carpinus etc.) in Korea. Development from egg to adulthood took $4\sim11$ months in nature and about 66 days in the laboratory at $25.5{\sim}26.1^{\circ}C$ and $63.5\sim64.5%$ relative humidity. Both larvae and adults overwintered in their host fungi or beneath the bark of the host tree near the host fungi. Sporophores of Coriolus $Qu{\acute{e}}let$, Bjerkandera Karst., Daedaleopsis Schroet. and Merulius were common feeding and breeding sites in Korea.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.159-164
• /
• 2009

A taxonomic review of a new record, Bolitophagiella pannosa (Lewis) in Korea is presented. Description of adult is presented and also we conducted laboratory and field observations of the life history and fungal hosts of the darkling beetle, Bolitophagiella pannosa (Lewis). A fungivorous tenebrionid beetle, Bolitophagiella pannosa (Lewis), was a rare inhabitant of fungi on deciduous trees (Quercus, Robinia pseudoacacia etc.) in Korea. Development from egg to adulthood took 3${\sim}$10 months in nature and about 54 days in the laboratory at 25.5${\sim}$$26.1^{\circ}C$ and 63.5${\sim}$64.5% relative humidity. Both larvae and adults overwintered in their host fungi or beneath the bark of the host tree near the host fungi. Sporophores of Perenniporia medulla-panis (Fr.) Donk and Perenniporia frazinea (Fr.) Ryv. were obligate feeding and breeding sites in Korea. Description, habitus photographs of adult and instar, and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.200-207
• /
• 2015

Various natural products or their derivatives, mostly originating from plants, fungi, and bacteria, have been exploited as therapeutic drugs to treat various human diseases. In addition to previously explored organisms, research on natural compounds has now expanded into unexamined living organisms in order to identify novel bioactive substances. Here, we determined whether or not the larval form of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle, contains cytotoxic substances that exclusively affect cancer cell viability. Ethanol extract and its solvent partitioned fractions, hexane and ethyl acetate fractions, showed anticancer effects against various human cancer cells derived from the prostate (PC3 and 22Rv1), cervix (HeLa), liver (PLC/PRF5, HepG2, Hep3B, and SK-HEP-1), colon (HCT116), lung (NCI-H460), breast (MDA-MB231), and ovary (SKOV3). Cell death induced by the fractions was a mix of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. The hexane fraction was administered intraperitoneally to nude mice bearing a hepatocellular carcinoma SK-HEP-1 and showed inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, we concluded that worm extracts contain cytotoxic substances, which can be enriched by proper fractionation protocols, and further separation and purification could lead to the identification of novel molecules to treat human cancers.