Draft genomes of two Lethrus species.

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• The superfamily Scarabaeoidae (Coleoptera) is ecologically important and behaviorally diverse.
• Limited genomic data exists for Scarabaeoidae, hindering evolutionary studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate genome assemblies for Lethrus scoparius and Lethrus apterus.
• To provide genomic resources for understanding Scarabaeoidae evolution.

Main Methods:

• Third-generation sequencing technology was employed.
• Genome assembly and gene function assignment were performed.
• BUSCO analysis assessed genome completeness.

Main Results:

• The Lethrus scoparius genome was assembled into 2,873 contigs (N50: 301,243 bp) with 98.1% complete BUSCO hits.
• The Lethrus apterus genome was assembled into 886 scaffolds (N50: 1,378,308 bp) with 96.8% complete BUSCO hits.
• 15,252 genes were assigned functions in L. scoparius and 15,520 in L. apterus.

Conclusions:

• These genome assemblies represent a significant contribution to Scarabaeoidae genomics.
• The data will facilitate research into the evolution of feeding behaviors and mating strategies within the superfamily.