Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Japanese sawyer beetle Monochamus alternatus

Abstract

The Japanese sawyer beetle Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a pest in pine forests and acts as a vector for the pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which causes the pine wilt disease. We assembled a high-quality genome of M. alternatus at the chromosomal level using Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The assembled genome is 767.12 Mb, with a scaffold N50 of 82.0 Mb. All contigs were assembled into ten pseudo-chromosomes. The genome contains 63.95% repeat sequences. We identify 16, 284 protein-coding genes in the genome, of which 11,244 were functionally annotated. The high-quality genome of M. alternatus provides an invaluable resource for the biological, ecological, and genetic study of this beetle and opens new avenues for understanding the transmission of pine wood nematode by insect vectors.