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.     

First record of the genus Adelphocorisella Miyamoto and Yasunaga (Hemiptera: Miridae) from Korea

Adelphocorisella lespedezae Miyamoto and Yasunaga, 1993 , which was previously known only from Japan, is reported from Korea for the first time and diagnosed. An image of its dorsal habitus as well as illustrations of the male genitalia are provided. The discovery of the mirid species also represents the first distributional record in Korea as well as the continental Palaearctic Region for the genus Adelphocorisella Miyamoto and Yasunaga, 1993 .     

不同林龄樟子松人工林径向生长对气候及地下水位变化的响应

全球气候变化导致森林生态系统的结构与功能发生改变,甚至出现树木死亡与林分衰退的现象,研究林分生长对气候变化尤其是干旱事件的响应有助于预测未来气候变化下生态系统的稳定性。以辽宁章古台5个林龄的樟子松人工林为研究对象,分析了树木径向生长对气候因子与地下水位的响应,结果表明：秋季气温,尤其是最低气温显著影响樟子松林的生长(44年生林分除外);低林龄樟子松林(36、39年)生长与当年夏季及生长季内的降水显著正相关,而高林龄樟子松林(52年)生长则与当年春季尤其是当年2月与5月降水显著正相关;36、39、52年生樟子松人工林年表与当年夏季的Palmer干旱指数(PDSI)显著正相关,44、58年生樟子松人工林年表则与地下水位显著正相关。应对早期干旱(即1997年)时,樟子松人工林表现为随林龄增加,其抵抗力增加而恢复力降低;在随后的两个干旱事件中,高林龄樟子松林的抵抗力不再明显高于低林龄,可能是由于地下水位显著降低影响根系吸水;受累积干旱的影响,所有林龄樟子松人工林对2007—2008干旱事件的弹性力均小于1,径向生长量明显降低。地下水位是影响不同林龄樟子松人工林生长及对干旱抵抗力的重要因子,考虑...     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Perilla frutescens Brit

We isolated and characterized 13 polymorphic microsatellite primers from Perilla frutescens Brit. var. frutescens by using a modified method that involves one‐way PCR amplification with single primer prior to enrichment with an ‘oligo hook’. The efficiency of this procedure for isolating unique microsatellite sequences was approximately 77%. The number of alleles per microsatellite locus ranged from three to 10 with an average of 6.5 alleles per locus while fragment size varied from 156 to 298 bp. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.52 to 0.86 and 0.52 to 0.89, respectively. These newly isolated microsatellite markers are expected to provide valuable resources for different genetic studies currently underway in our Perilla genome research program.     

Effects of fermented aloe vera mixed diet on larval growth of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe) (coleopteran:Cetoniidae) and protective effects of its extract against CCl4‐induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of fermented aloe vera mixed diet on larval growth of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe) (coleopteran: Cetoniidae) and protective effects of extract of larvae of P. brevitarsis seulensis fed fermented aloe vera mixed diet against Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)‐induced hepatotoxicity in Sprague–Dawley rats. To determine whether different diets can affect the larval growth of P. brevitarsis seulensis, six different diets were investigated in the experiment, and the results exhibited that 15% fermented aloe vera with 85% fermented oakwood sawdust was the best diet for larval growth of this insect, followed by 9% fermented aloe vera with 91% fermented oakwood sawdust. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats (n= 30) were separated into five groups of six each, as follows: control group; CCl₄ group; CCl₄ plus larval extract group (without fermented aloe vera); CCl₄ plus 9% and 15% larval extract groups (with fermented aloe vera). All extract groups were fed with 30 mg/kg extracts of fermented oakwood sawdust only and fermented oakwood sawdust plus 9% and 15% fermented aloe vera, respectively, once every consecutive day, with administration of CCl₄ (1.5 mL/kg, 20% CCl₄ in olive oil) twice a week for 3 weeks. Administration of CCl₄ increased the serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotranseferase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels in rats and reduced levels of glutathione in the liver. Treatment with extract of larval‐fed fermented aloe vera mixed diet significantly alleviated these changes to nearly normal levels. The histopathological changes induced by CCl₄ were also significantly attenuated by extract of larval‐fed fermented aloe vera mixed diet treatment. The results suggest that the beneficial effect of fermented aloe vera mixed diet on larval growth may be to stimulate the larval life cycle, and 15% larval‐fed fermented aloe vera mixed diet exhibits potent hepatoprotective effects on CCl₄‐induced liver injury in rats, likely due to increased glutathione contents and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation.     

Taxonomy of the Genus Moriparia Kozének et Kwon (Diptera: Pipunculidae) from Korea

ABSTRACT Six species of the genus Moriparia Kozánek et Kwon including M. palgongsana sp. nov. and M. robusta sp. nov. from Korea are recorded. A key to Korean species is provided.     

Characterization of alanyl aminopeptidase from insecticide resistant and susceptible strains of Musca domestica L.

To investigate the high activity of intracellular proteases in insecticide resistant strains of Musca domestica L., purification by anion‐exchange chromatography and gel filtration of one of the enzymes, alanyl aminopeptidase (Ala AP), in three strains of Musca domestica was carried out. The fractions collected by gel filtration of soluble homogenates of the three strains (571ab, 17bb and Cooper) showed a single peak of Ala AP activity. Partially purified Ala AP of the three strains showed high activity at pH 7.5. The presence or absence of Ca²⁺ in the assay medium did not produce any difference in activity of Ala AP in the 571ab and Cooper strains, but there was a significant difference in the 17bb strain. The activity of Ala AP in all three strains was essentially unaltered in the presence of inhibitors of serine (PMSF), cysteine (E‐64) proteases and carboxypeptidases (pepstatin). Ala AP hydrolyzed alanine amino methylcoumarin (Ala‐AMC) maximally, followed by phenyl alanine amino methylcoumarin (Phe‐AMC), leucyl amino methylcoumarin (Leu‐AMC) and ornithine amino methylcoumarin (Orn‐AMC). Ala AP from the three strains showed differential activity towards various substrates. The comparison of alanyl aminopeptidase's activity from different sources is discussed.     

Insecticidal control of the mealybug Phenacoccus gossypiphilous (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a new pest of cotton in Pakistan

The mealybug Phenacoccus gossypiphilous (Stanley) played havoc with the cotton crop in Pakistan during 2005. To control this pest, insecticides of different groups were evaluated in both the laboratory and in field conditions. In the laboratory, bifenthrin, profenofos and chlorpyrifos proved to be the best insecticides for mealybug control, based on their susceptibility with the leaf dip method for their LC₅₀. In field conditions, the recommended application rates of methomyl, profenofos and chlorpyrifos provided the best control: the lethal time studies proved their efficiency for better and timely control of this sporadic pest. The present study has shown that the insecticides tested, in particular profenofos, chlorpyrifos, methomyl and bifenthrin, provide satisfactory control of the cotton mealybug. The control of the insect pest complex throughout the cotton crop predominantly depends on wise and justified use of these chemicals, and necessitates development of an integrated pest management strategy.     

Relationship between diet composition and the fecundity of Musca domestica

A study of the relationship between diet compositions of housefly Musca domestica and the fecundity of the insect was carried out. Fecundity was increased more than 30% by adding a protein source and inorganic salts into the larval and adult diets. Also, adding a protein source into the adult diet prolonged the oviposition period of adult houseflies.