Genomes of the Hymenoptera

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Hymenoptera is the second-most sequenced arthropod order, but current genomes represent only 15 of 97 families, limiting understanding of its diversity.
• Existing and in-progress genomes heavily focus on stinging wasps, neglecting the order's broad ecological, behavioral, and physiological variation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the need for a more comprehensive catalog of hymenopteran genomes.
• To advocate for increased genome sequencing to capture the full diversity of Hymenoptera.
• To recommend strategies for improving genome assembly quality.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of publicly archived and in-progress hymenopteran genome data.
• Identification of gaps in genomic representation across hymenopteran families.
• Recommendation for sequencing strategies, including haploid male sequencing.

Main Results:

• Current hymenopteran genome data represents a small fraction (15 out of 97 families) of the order's diversity.
• Stinging wasps dominate available and in-progress genomes (67% and 76%, respectively).
• Less than 0.05% of estimated hymenopteran species have genome assemblies.

Conclusions:

• A more comprehensive hymenopteran genome catalog is essential for studying evolutionary processes driving diversity.
• Sequencing efforts should expand to cover more families and species.
• Haploid male sequencing is recommended to improve genome assembly quality in this haplodiploid order.