• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.272-281
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• 2023

Chigger mites are the vector of scrub typhus. This study estimates the infestation status and ecological characteristics of chiggers on the chestnut white-bellied rat Niviventer fulvescens in Southwest China between 2001 and 2019. Chiggers were identified under the microscope, and infestation indices were calculated. The Preston's log-normal model was used to fit the curve of species abundance distribution. A total of 6,557 chiggers were collected in 136 of 342 N. fulvescens rats, showing high overall infestation indices (prevalence=39.8%, mean abundance=19.2, mean intensity=48.2) and high species diversity (S=100, H'=3.0). Leptotrombidium cangjiangense, Neotrombicula japonica, and Ascoschoengastia sifanga were the three dominant chigger species (constituent ratio=42.9%; 2,736/6,384) and exhibited an aggregated distribution among different rat individuals. We identified 100 chigger species, with 3 of them (Leptotrombidium scutellare, Leptotrombidium wenense, and Leptotrombidium deliense) as the main vectors of scrub typhus in China and nine species as potential vectors of this disease. Disease vector occurrence on N. fulvescens may increase the risk of spreading scrub typhus from rats to humans. Chigger infestation on N. fulvescens varied significantly in different environments. The species abundance distribution showed a log-normal distribution pattern. The estimated number of chigger species on N. fulvescens was 126 species.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2022

Ginseng is an international herb that has been used for thousands of years. Two species most commonly applied and investigated in the ginseng family are Asian ginseng and American ginseng. The number of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) has conspicuously increased, driven by the rapid development of ginseng. However, the reporting of RCT items of ginseng is deficient because of different trial designs and reporting formats, which is a challenge for researchers who are looking for the data with high quality and reliability. Thus, this study focused on providing an extensive analysis of these two species and examined the quality of the RCTs, based on the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guideline. Ninety-one RCTs conducted from 1980 to 2019 that were related to Asian ginseng and American ginseng used singly met our inclusion criteria. We found that the reporting quality of the two species has improved during the past 40 years. Publication date and sample size were significantly associated with the reporting quality. Rigorous RCTs designed for the species of ginseng are warranted, which can shed light on product research and development of ginseng in the future.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2022

The subfamily Pimplinae is one of the largest groups of the family Ichneumonidae, currently 1,737 species in 77 genera worldwide. In Korea, 120 species in 33 genera have been recorded. The South Korean species of the subfamily Pimplinae Wesmael, 1845 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are the focus of this study. Here, six species are newly added in the South Korean fauna: Aravenator kamijoi Momoi, Chablisea varicolor Liu, He & Chen, Clistopyga arctica Kusigemati, Liotryphon cydiae (Perkins), L. strobilellae (Linnaeus), and Zaglyptus semirufus marginatus Kasparyan. Of these new taxa, two genera (Aravenato and, Chablisea) belonging to the tribe Ephialtini are also newly recorded from South Korea. We present a key to species of South Korean Clistopyga, Liotryphon, and Zaglyptus, diagnosis, photographs, and distribution. As a result of this study, the Korean fauna of Pimplinae is now known to consist of 126 species in 35 genera. All Pimplinae specimens are kept in the collections of the Geolim Entomological Institute (GEI), Daegu, South Korea.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2015

A new species of the genus Farranula Wilson, 1942 (Cyclopoida, Corycaeidae) is described based on both sexes collected off Chuuk Island in Micronesia (West Central Pacific). The new species F. dahlae differs from its close congener F. gibbula (Giesbrecht, 1891) in the following combination of characters in both sexes: body length is longer, length to width ratio of caudal rami is larger, basal element of maxilliped is distinctly longer, and terminal spine to distal segment ratio of P4 is smaller; while in females, lateral margins of fourth pedigerous somite are extended to mid-region of second urosomal somite, maximum width of the second urosomal somite is located at middle region in dorsal and lateral views, and length ratio of caudal seta III to seta V is much larger; and in males, sharply contracted portion of second somite is located at two-thirds distance from anterior margin. Some additional morphological details of F. gibbula are given and a key to species of the genus Farranula is provided.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2019

A new marine halacarid species of the genus Agauopsis Viets, 1927 (Acari: Halacaridae) is recorded from Jeju Island, Korea. Agauopsis tetrasetosa n. sp. belongs to the microrhyncha group in sharing one ventral and three ventromedial spines on tibia of leg I, of which two ventromedial ones are adjacent to each other, with its 20 congeneric members. Agauopsis tetrasetosa n. sp. is most similar to A. miliaris Bartsch, 2005 and A. similis Bartsch, 1979 in sharing the similar chaetotaxy of legs I-IV, positions of the second and fourth dorsal setae, and non 'H'- or 'M'-shaped costae on anterior dorsal plate. However, the new species is distinguished from them by four pairs of perigenital setae in female, the relatively anterior location of gland pores on posterior dorsal plate, and three ventral spines on the tibia of leg II. We describe the new species herein, with detailed illustrations under a differential interference contrast microscope. We also make some brief comments on the affinities between the congeneric species of the microrhyncha group and the new species, based on a tabular key to species of the group.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 1996

Two species of apogonid fishes, Apogon endekataenia Bleeker and A. notatus Houttuyn, were recently collected from coastal water in Cheju Island, Korea. These species are redescribed and figured here as new to Korea. A key to nine species of the genus Apogon from Korea is presented.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.228-234
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• 2017

The first zoeas of Nursia rhomboidalis and Pyrhila carinata were obtained from laboratory condition. They are described and illustrated for the first time. Morphological comparison with those of other Korean described species of the family Leucosiidae reveals that the zoea of N. rhomboidalis is very similar to those of Myra fugax and Arcania undecimspinosa based on characteristics of the carapace spines length, the antenna morphology, the maxilla endopod setation, and the telson, whereas, the zoea of Py. carinata coincides well with those of Philyra kanekoi and Pyrhila pisum based on characteristics of the carapace spines length, the antenna morphology, the maxilla endopod setation, and the telson. Furthermore, we find that at least two groups of zoeas exist in the Korean species of the subfamily Ebaliinae. A provisional key to the known zoeas of ten leucosiid species from Korean waters is provided.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2012

Aggregate and solitary zooids of salps were collected from April 2001 to June 2009. By the analyses based on the morphological characteristics, four species in the genus Cyclosalpa of the subfamily Cyclosalpinae are identified as new records in Korean waters: Cyclosalpa affinis (Chamisso, 1819), Cyclosalpa bakeri Ritter, 1905, Cyclosalpa sewelli Metcalf, 1927, and Cyclosalpa polae Sigl, 1912. These species are re-described with illustrations and photographs in this study. In addition, a key to species of the genus Cyclosalpa in Korean waters and a key to the life cycles of Salpida are provided. As a result of this study twelve species in the Salpidae have been reported from Korea until now.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.157-163
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• 2022

We analyzed the hair microstructure of Korean small terrestrial mammals, such as Rodentia and Lagomorpha, to classify the characteristics of hair morphology. Micromys minutus showed a unicellular irregular type of medulla structures; on the other hand, the other mammals showed multicellular structures. Regarding the cuticular scale structures, the Rodentia species exhibited a narrow and broad diamond petal type, while the Lagomorpha species exhibited an elongated petal type. Interestingly, the hair cross-sections showed quite unique characteristics. We constructed hair identification keys to distinguish species with a single hair. The dichotomous key of Rodentia and Lagomorpha can be used for their behavioral ecology and dietary analysis of upper predators to serve as the basis for ecological research.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.114-122
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• 2019

A new species belonging to the genus Cyclopinopsis Smirnov, 1935 (Cyclopinidae) is described from Korea, as the third species of the genus. Specimens were collected by washing the subtidal sediments off Dokdo Island in the East Sea and the intertidal sands at Baegripo beach, Taean Peninsula on the Yellow Sea coast. Cyclopinopsis deformata n. sp. is characteristic and distinguished from its two congeneric species currently recognized, C. curticauda Smirnov, 1935 and C. brasiliensis Herbst, 1955 in having a deformed seta at the outer distal corner of the third exopodal segment of leg 4. The seta is supposed to be deformed from an outer spine on the third exopodal segment of leg 4, which has been known as completely lost in the genus until now. A character comparison table of the three species and a key to species of the genus Cyclopinopsis are provided herein.