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Abstract We present the first long-read de novo assembly and annotation of the luna moth (Actias luna) and provide the full characterization of heavy chain fibroin (h-fibroin), a long and highly repetitive gene (>20 kb) essential in silk fiber production. There are >160,000 described species of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera), but only within the last 5 years have we begun to recover high-quality annotated whole genomes across the order that capture h-fibroin. Using PacBio HiFi reads, we produce the first high-quality long-read reference genome for this species. The assembled genome has a length of 532 Mb, a contig N50 of 16.8 Mb, an L50 of 14 contigs, and 99.4% completeness (BUSCO). Our annotation using Bombyx mori protein and A. luna RNAseq evidence captured a total of 20,866 genes at 98.9% completeness with 10,267 functionally annotated proteins and a full-length h-fibroin annotation of 2,679 amino acid residues. 

Abstract The Antarctic sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri (Echinoida; Echinidae) is routinely used as a model organism for Antarctic biology. Here, we present a high-quality genome of S. neumayeri. This chromosomal-level assembly was generated using PacBio long-read sequencing and Hi-C chromatin conformation capture sequencing. This 885.3-Mb assembly exhibits high contiguity with a scaffold length N50 of 36.7 Mb assembled into 20 chromosomal length scaffolds. These putative chromosomes exhibit a high degree of synteny compared to other sea urchin models. We used transcript evidence gene modeling combined with sequence homology to identify 21,638 gene models that capture 97.4% of BUSCO orthologs. Among these, we were able to identify and annotate conserved developmental gene regulatory network orthologs, positioning S. neumayeri as a tractable model for comparative studies on evolution and development. 

Abstract We present a high-quality assembly and annotation of the periodical cicada species, Magicicada septendecula (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadidae). Periodical cicadas have a significant ecological impact, serving as a food source for many mammals, reptiles, and birds. Magicicada are well known for their massive emergences of 1 to 3 species that appear in different locations in the eastern United States nearly every year. These year classes (“broods”) emerge dependably every 13 or 17 yr in a given location. Recently, it has become clear that 4-yr early or late emergences of a sizeable portion of a population are an important part of the history of brood formation; however, the biological mechanisms by which they track the passage of time remain a mystery. Using PacBio HiFi reads in conjunction with Hi-C proximity ligation data, we have assembled and annotated the first whole genome for a periodical cicada, an important resource for future phylogenetic and comparative genomic analysis. This also represents the first quality genome assembly and annotation for the Hemipteran superfamily Cicadoidea. With a scaffold N50 of 518.9 Mb and a complete BUSCO score of 96.7%, we are confident that this assembly will serve as a vital resource toward uncovering the genomic basis of periodical cicadas’ long, synchronized life cycles and will provide a robust framework for further investigations into these insects.