• Molecules and Cells
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.347-363
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• 2009

The 15,389-bp long complete mitogenome of the endangered red-spotted apollo butterfly, Parnassius bremeri (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) was determined in this study. The start codon for the COI gene in insects has been extensively discussed, and has long remained a matter of some controversy. Herein, we propose that the CGA (arginine) sequence functions as the start codon for the COI gene in lepidopteran insects, on the basis of complete mitogenome sequences of lepidopteran insects, including P. bremeri, as well as additional sequences of the COI start region from a diverse taxonomic range of lepidopteran species (a total of 53 species from 15 families). In our extensive search for a tRNA-like structure in the A+T-rich region, one $tRNA^{Trp}$-like sequence and one $tRNA^{Leu}(UUR)$-like sequence were detected in the P. bremeri A+T-rich region, and one or more tRNA-like structures were detected in the A+T-rich region of the majority of other sequenced lepidopteran insects, thereby indicating that such features occur frequently in the lepidopteran mitogenomes. Phylogenetic analysis using the concatenated 13 amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences of PCGs of the four macrolepidopteran superfamilies together with the Tortricoidea and Pyraloidea resulted in the successful recovery of a monophyly of Papilionoidea and a monophyly of Bombycoidea. However, the Geometroidea were unexpectedly identified as a sister group of the Bombycoidea, rather than the Papilionoidea.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.261-270
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• 2014

We investigated the diversity of lepidopteran larvae and their food plants in a 0.1 ha plot at Mt. Jirisan National Park, South Korea. The plant species in the plot were identified, and the lepidopteran larvae that fed on each plant in the plot were collected. Thus, we collected 141 plants of 16 species that belonged to 14 families and 159 lepidopteran larvae of 70 species that belonged to 11 families. Oak (Quercus serrata) was found to be the most favored plant species. Among the 11 lepidopteran families, the species richness and evenness of two families, Geometridae and Noctuidae, were the highest. On the basis of this study, we could assume the interaction between food plants and caterpillars in a temperate forest. Furthermore, we could estimate the species diversity of lepidopteran caterpillars in this temperate forest.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.345-350
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• 2009

We have isolated and characterized a new insect chicken type (c-type) lysozyme gene from the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura. The full-length cDNA of Spodoptera lysozyme is cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR (RACE-PCR). The isolated cDNA consists of 1039 bp including the coding region for a 142-amino acid residue polypeptide, which included a signal peptide of 21-amino acid residue and a mature protein of 121-amino acid residue. The predicted molecular weight of mature lysozyme and its theoretical isoelectric point from amino acid composition is 13964.8 Da and 9.05, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of Spodoptera lysozyme gene shows the highest similarity (96.7%) to Spodoptera exigua lysozyme among other lepidopteran species. Amino acid sequence comparison with other the c-type lysozymes, Spodoptera lysozyme has the completely conserved $Glu^{32}$ and $Asp^{50}$ of the active site and eight Cys residues are completely conserved in the same position as that of other lepidopteran lysozymes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.513-519
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• 1993

The alkaline protease in the polyhedra preparation of Spodoptera litura nuclear polyhedrosis virus was successfully inactivated by heating at 100C for 20 minutes. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that heat inactivated polyhedra is composed of major proteins of 31kDa and presumptive its polymer protein of 62kDa. However, this polyhedra was converted into several smaller molecular weight proteins when treated with midgut juice, but not by treatment with heat-inactivated midgut juice.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.193-197
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• 2014

To investigate the degree of individuals' likability of insects, a survey was conducted with students and adults living in Korea. Overall, for insect-related questions, positive responses were higher than negative ones. Among the positive responses, the personal rearing of insects scored lower than others. The unconditional dislike of insects scored highest in the negative responses. A significant differences and correlations were found between males and females, students and adults, people experienced in insect-related events and those who were not. In particular, previous experience in insect-related events significantly influenced insect likability. Subjects preferred coleopteran and lepidopteran insects to others. However, this preference of insects differed by gender: Male participants preferred coleopteran insects to lepidopteran insects, while female participants preferred lepidopteran insects to coleopteran ones. No significant differences in the preference of insects were found by participants' job, residence, or experience in insect-related events. These findings suggest that gender is the most important factor to consider in selecting insects to be used as therapeutic tools in mental health care.

• 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.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2007

The Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) ORF80 (ha80) has 765 bp encoding a protein with approximately 254 amino acids and a predicted molecular weight of 30.8 kDa. Homologues of ha80 are found in most baculovirus sequences, including those from lepidopteran NPVs, lepidopteran granuloviruses (GVs), hymenopteran baculoviruses, and one dipteran baculovirus, yet their functions remain unclear. In this study we characterized ha80, and showed that it was transcribed late in infected host cells (HzAM1). The product of ha80 was a 31 kDa protein that was not a structural protein of budded virus (BV) or occlusion-derived virus (ODV) particles. Ha80 was first detected in the cytoplasm of infected HzAM1 cells at 12 h p.i., and was observed in the nucleus at later stages of infection, suggesting that it may be involved in transporting viral proteins into the host cell nucleus or play its roles in the nucleus.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.68-70
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• 2024

The genus Charops is one of the small genera of the subfamily Campopleginae with 30 species reporded worldwide. All of the known host insects of Charops striatus belong to the lepidopteran family Zygaenidae, perceived as harmful. C. striatus, one of the endoparasitoids from Elcysma westwoodi, is the most damaging lepidopteran pest of Prunus yedoensis. In South Korea, host plants of C. striatus were reported by Choi & Lee in 2008. In this paper, two new host plants, Crepidiastrum denticulatum and Zea mays, of Charops striatus are reporded for the first time from South Korea. Digital images and redescription of this species are provided.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.124-124
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• 2002

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.35-50
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• 2022

In this review, the compositions of the sex pheromones of 22 lepidopteran species were analyzed and briefly arranged by comparing the research results conducted in different locations worldwide. These compositions can be used as monitoring tools for pests of rice, maize, leguminous crops, perilla, and sesame in Korea. The sex pheromone compounds and those compositions of four species were successfully identified within Korean populations. The optimal compositions of sex pheromones of three other species were selected through behavioral studies using synthetic chemicals of the known pheromone compounds in laboratories and fields, without chemical identification processes in the sex pheromone compounds of Korean populations. For a few species, the roles of the minor components of the sex pheromone volatiles should be re-assessed for use in the development of optimal monitoring lures.