PAPER: High-Quality Assemblies for Three ...

High-Quality Assemblies for Three Invasive Social Wasps from the Vespula Genus

October 2020

Harrop T, Guhlin J, McLaughlin G, Permina E, Stockwell P, Gilligan J, Le Lec MF, Gruber MAM, Quinn O, Lovegrove M, Duncan EJ, Remnant EJ, Van Eeckhoven J, Graham B, Knapp RA, Langford KW, Kronenberg Z, Press MO, Eacker SM, Wilson-Rankin EE, Purcell J, Lester PJ, Dearden PK. 2020. High-Quality Assemblies for Three Invasive Social Wasps from the Vespula Genus. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics (Bethesda) 10(10): 3479-3488.

ABSTRACT

We sequenced and annotated the genomes of the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), German wasp (Vespula germanica), and the western yellowjacket (Vespula pensylvanica). Our chromosome-level Vespula assemblies each contain 176–179 Mb of total sequence assembled into 25 scaffolds, with 10–200 unanchored scaffolds, and 16,566–18,948 genes. We annotated gene sets relevant to the applied management of invasive wasp populations, including genes associated with spermatogenesis and development, pesticide resistance, olfactory receptors, immunity and venom. These genomes provide evidence for active DNA methylation in Vespidae and tandem duplications of venom genes. Our genomic resources will contribute to the development of next-generation control strategies, and monitoring potential resistance to chemical control.

KEYWORDS

Vespula germanica, Vespula pensylvanica, Vespula vulgaris, Hymenoptera, social insects, genomes