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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347513
Research Project: Host Specificity and Systematics of Insect Biological Control Agents

Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit

Title: Genomes of the Hymenoptera

Author
item Branstetter, Michael
item Childers, Anna
item Cox-Foster, Diana
item Hopper, Keith
item KAPHEIM, KAREN - Utah State University
item TOTH, AMY - Iowa State University
item WORLEY, KIM - Baylor College Of Medicine

Submitted to: Current Opinion in Insect Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/22/2017
Publication Date: 2/1/2018
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5871092
Citation: Branstetter, M.G., Childers, A.K., Cox-Foster, D.L., Hopper, K.R., Kapheim, K.M., Toth, A.L., Worley, K.C. 2018. Genomes of the Hymenoptera. Current Opinion in Insect Science. 25:65-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2017.11.008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2017.11.008

Interpretive Summary: Although the insect order Hymenoptera (ants, bees, sawflies, and wasps) is the second-most sequenced arthropod order, with 52 publically archived genomes (71 for ants, not reviewed in this paper), these genomes do not capture the breadth of this very diverse group of insects. These sequenced genomes represent only 15 of the 97 hymenopteran families. Although sequencing is in progress for at least 55 other genomes in an additional 11 families, stinging wasps represent 35 (67%) of the available and 42 (76%) of the in-progress genomes. A more comprehensive catalogue of hymenopteran genomes is needed to support research into the evolutionary processes underlying the diversity in terms of ecology, behavior, and physiological traits in this group. Additional sequencing is needed to assemble genomes for even 0.05% of the estimated 1 million hymenopteran species, with relatively complete genome assemblies for at least 150 species dispersed across the order. Because males in Hymenoptera have only one set of chromosomes, sequencing individual males will help minimize genome assembly issues to enable higher quality genome assemblies.

Technical Abstract: Although Hymenoptera is the second-most sequenced arthropod order, with 52 publically archived genomes (71 for ants, reviewed elsewhere), these genomes do not capture the breadth of this very diverse order. These sequenced genomes represent only 15 of the 97 extant families. Although at least 55 other genomes are in progress in an additional 11 families, stinging wasps represent 35 (67%) of the available and 42 (76%) of the in progress genomes. A more comprehensive catalogue of hymenopteran genomes is needed for research into the evolutionary processes underlying the expansive diversity in terms of ecology, behavior, and physiological traits within this group. Additional sequencing is needed to generate an assembly for even 0.05% of the estimated 1 million Hymenopteran species, with premier level assemblies for at least 0.1% of the >150,000 named species dispersed across the order. Given the haplodiploid sex determination in Hymenoptera, haploid male sequencing will help minimize genome assembly issues to enable higher quality genome assemblies.