Sang Jae Suh

New method to stimulate the onset of Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) rearing: Using worker helpers in the presence of frozen pupae

The failure of bumblebee queens to enthusiastically start a colony under laboratory conditions may be due to lack of oviposition during an experiment, a long delay in oviposition from the termination of hibernation, and failure to rear a large first brood. In the present study, the use of frozen male pupae to start the colony with the assistance of bumblebee workers rather than fresh, young, male pupae was investigated under controlled room temperature and humidity conditions. The period of initiation of the colony decreased with an increase in the number of worker helpers from one to six. The period was as short as 3.9 days in the presence of six worker helpers. Second and third broods also started earlier with the help of workers. The rate of first worker production per egg cup was double that of the normal method (i.e. without worker helpers). Egg eating behavior of the queen was not found in the first brood if more than two workers helped the development of the larvae. Four worker helpers were found to be sufficient, as they could produce 100% colony foundation and 91.46% first worker production colonies. This study showed that using frozen old pupae is a good stimulator for colony foundation in the presence of four bumblebee worker helpers.

Photoperiodic influence on the body mass of bumblebee, Bombus terrestris and its copulation duration

Abstract:  The body mass of Bombus terrestris individuals is an important trait for their behavioural performance and colony organization. In this study, colonies were reared under four different photoperiodic regimes, viz. 0 : 24, 8 : 16, 16 : 8 and 24 : 0 h light : darkness (L : D) at 28°C and 50% relative humidity. The changes in body mass were observed at the stages of larvae, pupae and on the day of adult eclosion. Both the wet and dry mass of sexuals gradually decreased with increasing day length. The relationship between body mass and copulation duration revealed that copulation duration was negatively correlated with male body mass, but positively with queen body mass. Higher number of matings by males resulted in significantly higher duration of copulation.

A Systematic Study of Rivellia Robineau-Desvoidy in Korea, with Emphasis on the Species Allied to Rivellia basilaris (Diptera: Platystomatidae)

Abstract As a result of a taxonomic study of the Rivellia basilaris and its allied species in Korea, the following five species are recognized: R. basilaris (Wiedemann), R. flaviventris Hendel, R. nigroapicalis Byun et Suh, sp. nov., R. cestoventris Byun et Suh, sp. nov., and R. apicalis Hendel. None of the above species were previously reported in Korea. We provide descriptions and illustrations of these five species as well as a key to all 11 Korean Rivellia species. We also analysed interspecific relationships among Korean Rivellia species using cladistic methods. We propose to recognize R. basilaris species-group based on the presence of two lateral occipital setae as a synapomorphy. The monophyly of the previously recognized R. syngenesiae species-group is also supported by a single synapomorphy (outer surstylus extending beyond apex of cercus).

Impact of artificial photoperiodism on the colony development of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris

This study investigated the effect of the photoperiodic regimes 0 h light : 24 h dark (LD 0:24), LD 8:16, LD 16:8 and LD 24:0 at 28°C and 50% Relative Humidity (RH) on the colony development of hibernated (2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 months) bumblebee queens. The queens which had hibernated for 3.0 months and which were reared in a LD 8:16 photoperiod showed the highest rate of colony initiation (88.2%), colony foundation (67.6%) and progeny queen production (38.2%). The photoperiod LD 8:16 also produced the shortest period of colony initiation and colony foundation. The highest number of sexual males (171.2 ± 12.2) and queens (91.2 ± 9.9) were produced in the colonies when 3.5 and 3.0 month hibernated queens were kept in an LD 8:16 photoperiod. The results show that light regime and hibernation duration affect colony characteristics of Bombus terrestris.

Effects of photoperiod and hibernation duration on the lifespan of Bombus terrestris

In this study the effects of photoperiod and hibernation duration on the lifespan of Bombus terrestris queens were examined. Hibernation durations of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 months were studied, as were photoperiods of 0 h light : 24 h dark (LD 0:24), LD 8:16, LD 16:8 and LD 24:0. The queens that hibernated for 2.5 months and were exposed to 1 week of LD 8:16 had the highest survival rate (89.3%); the lowest survival rate was found in queens that hibernated for 4.0 months and were reared at LD 24:0. Photoperiod and hibernation duration had significant effects on egg predation by founding queens, competition between queens and workers, and emergence of sexual queens. Hibernation durations of 2.5 and 3.0 months and a photoperiod of LD 8:16 resulted in a significantly longer lifespan of B. terrestris.

Taxonomy of the genus Scathophaga Meigen (Diptera: Scathophagidae) in Korea

Three species of the genus Scathophaga–S. mellipes (Coquillet), S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) and S. stercoraria (Linnaeus) – are treated in this study. Of these, S. scybalaria (Linnaeus) is reported for the first time from Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities and some illustrations are given.

Biological Activities of Five Weed Extracts against Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

This study was conducted with n-hexane extracts of sensitive plant Mimosa pudica, mexican poppy Argemone mexicana, panimarich Leucus aspara, water pepper Polygonum hydropiper and shialmutra Blumea lacera weeds against pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) for protection of mung bean Vigna radiata grains. The LC50 values of the weed extracts ranged from 4.5 to 6.4, 4.1 to 5.6 and 3.6 to 5.5 g/100 mL at 24, 48 and 72 hours of post treatment, respectively. The extracts showed 35 to 69% fecundity and 33 to 63% adult emergence inhibitory effect on the pest, and revealed 13 to 49% grain protection of mung beans. Insect mortality, fecundity and adult emergence inhibitory effects, and grain protection activity increased with increased concentration of the extracts. The shialmutra followed by water pepper extracts revealed better performances in fecundity and adult beetle emergence inhibitory effect compared to the other weeds. The findings proved that the n-hexane extracts of the five weeds are sources of botanical insecticides which may be used in the integrated management of C. chinensis.

Reproductive responses to photoperiod and temperature by artificially hibernated bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queens

Post‐hibernated bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queens were kept for 1 week under photoperiodic conditions of 8 h light : 16 h dark, and at four different temperatures (24, 28, 32 and 36°C). The reproductive performance of the queens was then observed. It was found that exposure temperature and hibernation duration did not affect the oviposition rate. The pre‐oviposition period was found to be shortest (3.8 ± 0.7 days) for queens that had hibernated for 4.0 months and had been activated at 28°C. Timing of the initiation of the switch‐point was not affected by exposure temperature and hibernation duration. Significantly higher numbers of workers (268.0 ± 31.4) and sexual queens (119.3 ± 16.8) were produced by the queens that had hibernated for 3.0 months and had been activated at 28 and 36°C, respectively. The queens that had hibernated for 4.0 months and had been activated at 36°C produced the highest number of males (296.2 ± 32.3).

Taxonomy of the genus Lispe Latreille (Diptera: Muscidae) in Korea

In this paper, a total of four species of the genus Lispe are treated. Of these, L. assimilis Wiedemann and L. litorea Fallén are reported for the first time in Korea. A key to the Korean species, their domestic localities, and some illustrations are given.

A new record of the family Coelopidae (Diptera) from Korea

In this paper, Coelopa frigida (Fabricius, 1805) of the family Coelopidae is reported for the first time in Korea. The domestic localities and some illustrations are given.