• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 2015

We report three lepidopteran insect pests of non-astringent persimmon leaf for the first time from Korea; Hypocala deflorata (Noctuidae), Teliphasa elegans (Pyralidae), and Cuphodes diospyrosella (Gracillariidae). Larvae of these species were collected from an organic farming or abandoned persimmon orchard in Changwon and Jinju cities, Gyeongnam province, and reared for the identification in the laboratory. Some information, such as collection records, hosts, simple morphological characteristics, and ecology were introduced for each species.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2023

We monitored the hitchhiker insect pests from the international vessels entering into Korea in 2021. As a result, total of 581 individuals were detected by the survey based on visual inspection with naked eye. Among them, 500 individuals were identified as 244 species of 65 families under 11 orders through the integrative taxonomic method with DNA barcoding and morphological reexamination, but the remaining 81 individuals were classified as only to the family level. Of the 244 species identified, 26 species were determined to be not-distributed species in Korea (two Orthoptera, two Hemiptera, one Megaloptera, five Coleoptera, three Hymenoptera, and 13 Lepidoptera). Among them, two species, Sagra femorata (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera) and Dendrolimus punctatus (Lasiocampidae, Lepidoptera), were discovered as 'Regulated species' listed by Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, South Korea. Therefore, we reported on the 26 not-distributed species in Korea and provided inanimate pathway information such as navigation routes on the vessels hitchhiking the species, state of the samples at the time of detection, identification results and original distribution for the detailed monitoring and the risk analysis on the species.

• Entomological Research
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.339-347
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• 2018

Seven different strains of Beauveria bassiana were used in a bioassay on Pieris rapae larvae. The results showed that an B. bassiana strain showed relatively high pathogenicity towards P. rapae larvae. The adjusted mortality rate was 92.86 %, and the infection rate was 85.71 % in 10 days post inoculation. Molecular identification was performed to identify the unknown strain. Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence analysis showed that the polymerase chain reaction amplicon length of the unknown strain of Beauveria sp. was 573 bp, and sequence similarity to the known B. bassiana sequences in the NCBI database was 99 %. The B. bassiana strain was named Bb01. The changes of proteins and PPO of P. rapae larvae infected by B. bassiana Bb01 strain at different times was determined. The activity of PPO increased in 1-6 d and decreased in 7 d again after inoculation. The B. bassiana invaded into the insect body affected the balance of the proteins and PPO.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2008

Bacillus thuringiensis was isolated as a pathogen of the sotto disease of silkmoth larvae about a hundred years ago. Since then, this bacterium has attracted attentions of not only insect pathologists but also many other scientists who are interested in its strong and specific insecticidal activity. This has led to the recent worldwide development of B. thuringiensis-based microbial insecticides and insect-resistant transgenic plants, as well as a landmark discovery of par asp orin, a cancer cell-specific cytotoxin produced by B. thuringiensis. In this review, we describe examination of interaction between inclusion proteins of B. thuringiensis and brush border membrane of insects using a surface plasmon resonance-based biosensor, identification and characterization of parasporin-4, the latest parasporin produced by the B. thuringiensis A1470 strain, and an effective method for preparing the parasporin-4 from inclusion bodies expressed in the recombinant Escherichia coli cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.508-513
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• 2003

The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces toxin inclusions that are deleterious to target insect larvae. These toxins are believed to interact with a specific receptor protein(s) that is present on the gut epithelial cells of the larvae. In various insect species (in particular those belonging to the lepidopteran class), aminopeptidase N (APN) is one of the two receptor proteins that are considered to be involved in toxin-receptor interactions. However, in mosquitoes, the nature and identity of the receptor protein is unknown. Here, using RT-PCR, we identified two isoforms of the APN transcripts in the Aedes aegypti mosquito larval midgut. These results are congruent with a previous report of multiple isoforms of the APN gene expression in lepidopteran larvae. Which of the two isoforms (or other yet unidentified receptor proteins) is involved in the killing of mosquito larvae remains to be elucidated.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.54-58
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• 2018

Diet composition of amphibians usually reflects the distribution of potential prey within habitats, as well as their diet preference. We identified the diet items of Japanese tree frog (Hyla japonica) using a stomach flushing method in a rice paddy for the establishment of bio-monitoring systems of landscape changes. During the reproductive period, 71% of calling males had empty stomachs. All prey items in the stomachs belonged to the phylum Arthropoda, from eight orders of Insecta and one order of Arachnida. Among insect prey, the most common items in the stomachs were adults of beetles, flies and bugs, and larvae of butterflies and moths. There was a significant positive correlation between the body mass of Japanese tree frogs and the volume of prey items. Our results can provide a basic framework to guide the monitoring systems using prey identification of Japanese tree frogs.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2013

Three Penicillium species have been isolated from insect specimens in Korea; Penicillium sp., P. steckii, and P. polonicum. Penicillium sp. (KNU12-3-2) was isolated from Lixus imperessiventris, while P. polonicum (KNU12-1-8) and Penicillium steckii (KNU12-2-9) were isolated from Muljarus japonicas and Meloe proscarabaeus, respectively. The identification was based on the morphological characteristics of the fungi and in internal transcribed spacer analysis. This is the first report on the isolation of these three species of Penicillium from insects in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2021

A fungus of the genus Kordyana, found on leaves of Commelina communis and C. minor exhibiting white smut-like symptoms, was identified as Kordyana commelinae based on morphological characteristics and two rDNA sequence analyses. We report the novel occurrence of the genus Kordyana in Korea and the association of K. commelinae with the host plant species. As well, we provide the necessary mycological information to resolve species delimitation and taxonomic problems of Kordyana.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.518-521
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• 2020

Macruropyxis fraxini has been recorded on several species of Fraxinus in China, Japan, Russia (Far East), and North Korea since its first recorded observation as a rust fungus on F. rhynchophylla in Jilin, China, in 1899. In the Korean Peninsula, the rust fungus was first recorded on F. rhynchophylla in 1935, based on four specimens collected at Mt. Kumgangsan, Gangwondo Province, in the North Korean territory. We confirmed this rust in the Korean Peninsula after 82 years. The rust fungus was identified based on morphological characteristics and a molecular phylogenetic analysis. This is the first record of M. fraxini in South Korea.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2023

The insect industry in Korea is currently undergoing steady expansion. Among the various insects kept as pets or for educational purposes, four mantis species, including Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville), Tenodera angustipennis Saussure, Tenodera sinensis Saussure, and Statilia maculata (Thunberg), are becoming increasingly popular, leading to higher demand. As we aimed to raise mantises, we collected oothecae, some of which were found to be parasitized by dermestid beetles. These parasitoids have been unequivocally identified as Thaumaglossa rufocapillata Redtenbacher based on morphological characters. A diagnosis, habitus photographs, and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided to facilitate identification. We also present the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of T. rufocapillata for providing fundamental data for research aimed at controlling pests in the insect industry.