New record of subfamily Prometopinae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Nitidulidae) in Korea

The subfamily Prometopinae Böving and Craighead, 1931 is recorded from Korea for the first time. Two species from different genera are recognized; Prometopia unidentata Hisamatsu, 1959 and Paramatopia x-rubrum Reitter, 1884. Morphological comments, biology, illustrations of habitus with genitalia of both sexes and a key to species from Korea are provided.     

Sexual dimorphism documented in Reptalus iguchii (Matsumura) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Cixiidae) with a description of males

Reptalus iguchii (Matsumura 1914) comb. nov., previously known from female specimens, is recognized for the first time in the Republic of Korea. This species is sexually dimorphic, based on observations of a pair in copula. Detailed morphological characters of both male and female were studied and are illustrated. Also, sequence data from ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes were used to distinguish males and females of the only other congener known from Korea, R. quadricinctus (Matsumura 1914). Artemisia and Prunus are recorded as potential hosts in the Republic of Korea for the first time.     

Marine moult migration of the freshwater Scaly‐sided Merganser Mergus squamatus revealed by stable isotopes and geolocators

Scaly‐sided Mergansers Mergus squamatus breed on freshwater rivers in far eastern Russia, Korea and China, wintering in similar habitats in China and Korea, but nothing was known of their moulting habitat. To investigate the moult strategies of this species, we combined wing feather stable isotope ratios (males and females) with geolocator data (nesting females) to establish major habitat types (freshwater, brackish or saltwater) used by both sexes during wing moult. Although most Scaly‐sided Mergansers of both sexes probably moult on freshwater, some males and non‐breeding and failed breeding females appeared to undertake moult migration to brackish and marine waters. Given the previous lack of any surveys of coastal or estuarine waters for this species during the moult period, these findings suggest important survey needs for the effective conservation of the species during the flightless moult period.     

First record of Balcha Walker (Hymenoptera,Eupelmidae) in South Korea with the description of one new species

The genus Balcha Walker (Eupelmidae) is recorded for the first time in South Korea, with one newly described species and one newly recorded species. Both sexes of Balcha opaca Fusu sp. n. are described, and the presumed male of B. dictyota Gibson is described for the first time. The newly described species is peculiar in having a comparatively darker and less shiny mesoscutum. In other species of the genus the mesoscutum has brilliant metallic colours that contrast with dorsal dark bands along areas of much finer sculpture.     

Taxonomy of the genus Atherigona Rondani (Diptera: Muscidae) from Korea

The Korean shoot fly genus Atherigona Rondani is reviewed taxonomically. A total of five species was identified: A. (Acritochaeta) orientalis Schiner, A. (Atherigona) biseta Karl, A. (Atherigona) falcata (Thomson), A. (Atherigona) oryzae Malloch, and A. (Atherigona) bifurca sp. nov. Of these, A. (Atherigona) bifurca sp. nov. is new to science, and A. (Atherigona) biseta Karl and A. (Atherigona) falcata (Thomson) are reported for the first time in Korea. A key to Korean species and photographs of external features are provided.     

Taxonomic Note on Littoral Aleochara Gravenhorst Species in Korea (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

A taxonomic note of the littoral Aleochara Gravenhorst species in Korea is presented. Five species are recognized from intertidal zone. Aleochara trisulcata Weise and A. fucicola Sharp are reported for the first time in Korea and southern Korea, respectively. A key, a checklist of Korean littoral Aleochara species, and drawings of median lobes and spermathecae are provided.     

Taxonomy of two oxypodine genera, Porocallus Sharp and Rhomphocallus Assing, in Korea (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae)

A taxonomic study of the genera Porocallus Sharp and Rhomphocallus Assing in Korea is presented. The genus Rhomphocallus and two species, Rhomphocallus princeps (Sharp) and Rhomphocallus maruyamai Assing, are reported for the first time in Korea. Porocallus insignis Sharp is recorded for the first time in South Korea. Diagnoses, illustrations of habitus and line drawings of diagnostic characters are provided.     

Taxonomic revision of family Tropiduchidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) from Korea

The family Tropiduchidae is revised taxonomically comprising five genera and five species from Korea. Catullia vittata Matsumura is redescribed here on the basis of a series of males recently collected in Korea. Cixiopsis punctatus Matsumura and Catullia vittata Matsumura were transferred from Achilidae to Tropiduchidae and are redescribed here with male genitalia for the first time from Korea. Ommatissus binatatus Fieber previously reported was an incorrect identification of Ommatissus lofouensis Muir. Another species, Trypetimorpha koreana Kwon and Lee, is the macropterous form of Trypetimorpha japonica Ishihara. All Korean species of the Tropiduchidae are redescribed and illustrated, and an identification key to the genera of Tropiduchidae is provided.     

First record of the tribe Trigonoderini (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) from South Korea with descriptions of two new species

The tribe Trigonoderini (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) contains six genera (Gastracanthus Westwood, Janssoniella Kerrich, Miscogasteriella Girault, Platygerrhus Thomson, Plutothrix Förster and Trigonoderus Westwood). This tribe is recorded from South Korea for the first time. Two new species, Janssoniella albiclava Tselikh & Lee sp. nov. from South Korea and J. magna Tselikh & Lee sp. nov. from South Korea and the South Far East of Russia, are described. Eight species (Gastracanthus acutus (Kamijo), G. nigrescens Kamijo, Janssoniella intermedia Hedqvist, Miscogasteriella sulcate (Kamijo), Plutothrix scrobicula Kamijo, P. trifasciata (Thomson), Trigonoderus fraxini Yang and T. nigrocephalus Kamijo) are recorded from South Korea for the first time. The keys for identification of the Eastern–Palearctic species of Janssoniella and Gastracanthus are given and photos of diagnostic characters of the new species are provided.     

Physiological state influences the antennal response of Anastrepha obliqua to male and host volatiles

The sexual and host‐related behaviours of the fruit fly Anastrepha obliqua Macquart (Diptera: Tephritidae) are mediated by volatile compounds. However, whether the physiological state of this species affects its antennal and behavioural responses to semiochemicals is unknown. The effects of age, mating status, diet and the topical application of methoprene, a Juvenile hormone analogue (JHA), on the antennal sensitivity of this tephritid fruit fly species to selected male [(Z)‐3‐nonenol] and host fruit volatiles (ethyl benzoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl butyrate and trans‐β‐ocimene) are investigated using electroantennography (EAG). Overall, (Z)‐3‐nonenol and ethyl benzoate elicit the highest EAG responses in both sexes. Flies of both sexes aged 1, 5 and 10 days old show higher EAG responses to the tested compounds compared with flies aged 20 days old. Virgin females and males show higher EAG responses to volatile compounds than mated flies. Females and males fed with sugar plus protein show higher antennal responses to volatiles compared with flies fed sugar or protein alone. Flies of both sexes treated with methoprene show higher antennal responses than flies treated with acetone (control). These results suggest that the peripheral olfactory system in A. obliqua is modulated by the physiological state of the flies.     

The management of metabolic energy storage during the life cycle of mayflies: a comparative field investigation of the collector-gatherer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ephemera danica</Emphasis> and the scraper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhithrogena semicolorata</Emphasis>

The concentration and seasonal dynamics of the major energy storage components, triglycerides and glycogen, were measured in two species of mayfly (Rhithrogena semicolorata and Ephemera danica) with contrasting life cycle strategies living in a small mountain stream. E. danica is a burrowing, semivoltine collector-gatherer; R. semicolorata is univoltine and scrapes periphyton from stones. This is the first publication which focuses on the role of metabolic energy sources during the larval life span of two mayfly species until the larvae emerge. Although triglycerides are the major energy reserve in both species (>84% of total energy storage) throughout the whole larval development their seasonal dynamic differed considerably. In R. semicolorata the triglyceride concentration declined during the last weeks prior to emergence in both sexes. The same pattern was found in female larvae of E. danica, but not in male E. danica. It is suggested that females use triglycerides in the last larval stages for egg maturation, which is completed in the last larval instar. In male E. danica the triglyceride concentrations remained high until emergence, presumably due to their high energy demands as adults for their swarming flights. Glycogen concentrations did not show such a difference between species and sexes. Its significance as a storage substrate for energy is rather low; however, concentrations decreased in both species and sexes prior to emergence.     

Six new and two newly recorded species of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) in Korea

Adult chironomids were collected by light trap operations, sweeping grasses with insect nets, and aspiration of light‐attracted adults at various localities. All collected specimens were slide‐mounted and identified. Six species new to science were found and named: Rheotanytarsus pseudopentapoda n. sp., Cricotopus byeonsanensis n. sp., Cricotopus parajogantertius n. sp., Limnophyes bukhandecimus n. sp., Limnophyes simensis n. sp. and Orthocladius jeongnungensis. Two species, Ainuyusuroka tuberculatum (Tokunaga) and Pseudosmittia nishiharaensis Sasa and Hasegawa, are found for the first time in Korea. All species are fully described with illustrations. This is the first report of the genus Ainugusurika in Korea.     

Genetic diversity of Cladophora oligocladoidea forming a bloom in the coastal area of Korea

Green algal blooms by Cladophora species are primarily reported in freshwater and coastal regions and cause severe ecological problems. A taxonomic report of the geographic distribution of Cladophora blooms is essential to explore the cause and impact of macroalgal blooms and for eco-physiological studies. The identification of blooming species is necessary for monitoring and controlling algal blooms. Genetic information of DNA sequences is useful for identifying species in the genus Cladophora. In the coastal area of Sangrok, Korea, a large-scale Cladophora bloom was reported for the first time in September 2015. In the present study, we identified the taxonomic entity of Cladophora oligocladoidea (Ulvophyceae, Cladophorales) in Korea. We report for the first time a green algal bloom by this species globally. This is the second report about genetic diversity of C. oligocladoidea since the species was established in Japan. Four ribotypes in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA represent the genetic diversity of Korean C. oligocladoidea. The results from this taxonomic report and our analysis of the green algal bloom of Korean C. oligocladoidea can provide valuable data to understand the geographic distribution and the genetic diversity of the species.