Abstract
AbstractThe giant ladybug Megalocaria dilatata (Fabricius) is a potential biocontrol agent and a valuable model for coccinellid genomics and evolutionary biology. However, the lack of a reference genome for M. dilatata has impeded further explorations into its evolution and constrained its use in pest management. Here, we assembled and annotated a high-quality, chromosome-level genome of M. dilatata. The resulting assembly spans 772.3 Mb, with a scaffold N50 of 72.48 Mb and a GC content of 34.23%. The Hi-C data aided in anchoring the assembly onto 10 chromosomes ranging from 43.35 to 108.16 Mb. We identified 493.33 Mb of repeat sequences, accounting for 63.88% of the assembled genome. Our gene prediction identified 25,346 genes, with 81.89% annotated in public protein databases. The genome data will provide a valuable resource for studying the biology and evolution of Coccinellidae, aiding in pest control strategies and advancing research in the field.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Library and Information Sciences,Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty,Computer Science Applications,Education,Information Systems,Statistics and Probability
Reference56 articles.
1. Hodek, I., Honek, A. & Van Emden, H. F. Ecology and behaviour of the ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) (John Wiley & Sons, 2012).
2. Hodek, I. in Biology of Coccinellidae (ed. Hodek, I.) (Dr W. Junk Publishers, 1973).
3. Aslam, M. Conspicuousness and toxicity of Coccinellidae: An aposematic review. Arthropods 9, 85–91 (2020).
4. Kundoo, A. A. & Khan, A. A. Coccinellids as biological control agents of soft-bodied insects: A review. J. Entomol. Zool. Stud. 5, 1362–1373 (2017).
5. Schwarz, T. & Frank, T. Aphid feeding by lady beetles: higher consumption at higher temperature. BioControl 64, 323–332 (2019).