Colorado potato beetle is a most destructive insect pest of potato throughout the world. Although utilization of chemical insecticides is a main method for management of this pest, their negative side-effects such as threat to humans and the environmental pollution prompted researchers to search for natural alternatives. Recently plant essential oils with low or without side-effects against noun-targeted organisms and with high availability were considered as safe bio-pesticides. In the present study, toxicity of essential oil of Iranian lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus Stapf, was evaluated against 3th instar larvae and adults of Colorado potato beetle by a leaf dipping method. Results displayed essential oil had notable toxicity against both larvae and adults after 24 and 48 h exposure times. Probit analysis revealed LC₅₀ values (lethal concentration to kill 50% of population) with 95% confidence limits were 10.32 (9.17 – 11.72) and 7.76 (6.80 – 8.74) µl/ml for larvae and 6.27 (4.82 – 8.15) and 4.35 (3.24 – 5.62) µl/ml for adults after 24 and 48 h, respectively. Based on regression analysis, a positive correlation between log concentration of essential oil and insect mortality was achieved. Results indicated C. citratus essential oil can be candidate as a natural alternative to the harmful chemical insecticides in the management of Colorado potato beetle.
Adult ; Beetles* ; Colorado* ; Cymbopogon* ; Environmental Pollution ; Humans ; Insecticides ; Insects ; Larva ; Methods ; Mortality ; Oils, Volatile ; Plants ; Solanum tuberosum*

Oak tree death caused by symbiosis of an ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, and an ophiostomatoid filamentous fungus, Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae, has been a nationwide problem in Korea since 2004. In this study, we surveyed the yeast species associated with P. koryoensis to better understand the diversity of fungal associates of the beetle pest. In 2009, a total of 195 yeast isolates were sampled from larvae and adult beetles (female and male) of P. koryoensis in Cheonan, Goyang, and Paju; 8 species were identified by based on their morphological, biochemical and molecular analyses. Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Candida kashinagacola were found to be the two dominant species. Among the 8 species, Candida homilentoma was a newly recorded yeast species in Korea, and thus, its mycological characteristics were described. The P. koryoensis symbiont R. quercusmongolicae did not show extracelluar CM-cellulase, xylanase and avicelase activity that are responsible for degradation of wood structure; however, C. kashinagacola and M. guilliermondii did show the three extracellular enzymatic activities. Extracelluar CM-cellulase activity was also found in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, C. kashinagacola, and Candida sp. Extracelluar pectinase activity was detected in Ambrosiozyma sp., C. homilentoma, Candida sp., and M. guilliermondii. All the 8 yeast species displayed compatible relationships with R. quercus-mongolicae when they were co-cultivated on yeast extract-malt extract plates. Overall, our results demonstrated that P. koryoensis carries the yeast species as a symbiotic fungal associate. This is first report of yeast diversity associated with P. koryoensis.
Adult ; Ambrosia* ; Beetles* ; Candida ; Cellulases ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Fungi ; Humans ; Korea* ; Larva ; Platypus* ; Polygalacturonase ; Quercus* ; Symbiosis ; Wood ; Yeasts*

The ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, is an economically important pest affecting oak trees in Korea. Candida kashinagacola was isolated from galleries of the beetle in oak wood and identified by analyses of morphology, physiological properties, and nucleotide sequence of the large subunit ribosomal DNA. This is the first report on Candida species associated with oak wilt disease vectored by the ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, in Korea.
Ambrosia ; Base Sequence ; Beetles ; Candida* ; Disease Vectors* ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Korea* ; Platypus* ; Quercus ; Wood

Japanese pine sawyer beetle (Monochamus alternatus) is an economically important pest in coniferous trees. Ophiostoma ips was isolated from the beetle and identified based on analysis of morphological properties and the beta-tubulin gene sequence. The fungus easily produced perithecia with a long neck on malt extract agar and its ascospores were rectangular shaped. This is first report of Ophiostoma species associated with the pinewood nematode vector beetle in Korea.
Agar ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Beetles ; Coniferophyta ; Fungi ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck ; Ophiostoma ; Trees ; Tubulin

A Mariannaea fungus was isolated during investigation of an elm tree infested with unidentified beetles. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence, the fungus was identified as Mariannaea elegans var. elegans. Fungal growth was better on malt extract agar than on potato dextrose agar and oatmeal agar. Optimal temperature and pH for growth of the fungus were 30degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The fungus was found to have the ability to produce extracellular enzymes such as amylase, beta-glucosidase, cellulase, and protease. This is first report on M. elegans var. elegans in Korea.
Agar ; Amylases ; Beetles ; beta-Glucosidase ; Cellulase ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Solanum tuberosum ; Ulmus

During an investigation of fungi from an elm tree infested with bark beetles in Korea, one isolate, DUCC401, was isolated from elm wood. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and 28S rDNA (large subunit) sequences, the isolate, DUCC401, was identified as Mariannaea samuelsii. Mycelia of the fungus grew faster on malt extract agar than on potato dextrose agar and oatmeal agar media. Temperature and pH for optimal growth of fungal mycelia were 25degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The fungus demonstrated the capacity to degrade cellobiose, starch, and xylan. This is the first report on isolation of Mariannaea samuelsii in Korea.
Agar ; Beetles ; Cellobiose ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Solanum tuberosum ; Starch ; Ulmus ; Wood

The ambrosia beetle, Platypus koryoensis, is a serious pest of oak trees in Korea. In this study we investigated filamentous fungi present in the body of the beetle. Fourteen genera of filamentous fungi belonging to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were isolated. Among the isolated fungi, some were able to produce wood degrading enzymes. This is first report of fungi associated with P. koryoensis.
Ambrosia ; Ascomycota ; Basidiomycota ; Beetles ; Fungi ; Insect Vectors ; Insects ; Korea ; Platypus ; Quercus ; Wood

Dung beetles (family Scarabaeidae) are one of the largest families of beetles worldwide. Due to biological behavior of these arthropods, they are considered to play an important role in the life cycle of some helminths. In the present study, dung beetles collected from cattle pastures in rural areas of Ardabil province, north-west of Iran were examined for infection with larval stages of helminths. According to the results, nematodes of 2 genera were identified including Rhabditis and Gongylonema. The more common species was Rhabditis sp. which was found in 9 species of beetles. Out of 15 different species of dung beetles, Copris lunaris was the only scarabaeid to be found naturally infected with the larval stages of Gongylonema sp. Our new findings introduce C. lunaris as a potential biological vector for transmission of Gongylonema sp. to vertebrates in the surveyed region.
Animals ; Arthropod Vectors/*parasitology ; Beetles/*parasitology ; Humans ; Iran/epidemiology ; Larva/physiology ; Rhabditoidea/isolation & purification/physiology ; Spirurida Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*transmission ; Spiruroidea/isolation & purification/*physiology

Pine tree death caused by pine wood nematode (PWN) involves phoretic relationships between PWN and its vector Japanese pine sawyer beetle (JPS). In an effort to understand the diversity of fungi involved in PWN life cycle, a total of 176 fungal isolates were collected from PWNs, adults and larvae of JPS, PWN-diseased Japanese black pine that was cut down in 2005 at Jinju, Korea. Based on microscopic observation and colony morphology, and sequence analysis of the ITS rDNA, the fungal isolates were identified at the level of genus. Three genera including Mucor, Ophiostoma, and Penicillium were identified from PWN. Two genera of Ophiostoma and Penicillium were discovered from JPS larvae. From JPS adult beetles, nine genera of Aspergillus, Gibberella, Hypocrea, Irpex, Leptosphaeria, Ophiostoma, Penicillium, and Plectosphaerella and unknown basidiomycetes were found. Ten genera from PWN-infected wood were confirmed as Bionectria, Botrytis, Camarops, Fusarium, Hypocrea, Nectrtia, Mucor, Ophiostoma, Penicillium, and Trichoderma. Penicillium and Ophiostoma were commonly distributed on PWN and its vector and host. This is first report of the fungi associated with PWN and its vector and host in Korea.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Aspergillus ; Basidiomycota ; Beetles ; Botrytis ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi* ; Fusarium ; Gibberella ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Hypocrea ; Korea* ; Larva ; Life Cycle Stages ; Mucor ; Ophiostoma ; Penicillium ; Pinus ; Sequence Analysis ; Trichoderma ; Wood*

Pheropsophus jessoensis, bombardier beetle, when physically assaulted, produces diverse toxicants, often at high concentrations, including acids, aldehydes, phenols, and quinones. They can eject these fluids forcibly, in the form of sprays, at 100degrees C. In this way, it induces a chemical burn to their enemies, including humans. We experienced a man who got a chemical burn by a biological pulse jet from Pheropsophus jessoensis, which has not been reported in the Korean literature.
Aldehydes ; Beetles ; Burns, Chemical* ; Humans ; Phenol ; Phenols ; Quinones