The Biological Control Innovation Center and the Sino-American Biological control Laboratory of the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS), successfully assembled a high-quality chromosome-level genome of Arma chinensis using PacBio and Hi-C technologies. This reference genome provides essential genetic resources for studying reproductive and developmental regulation, as well as molecular mechanisms related to nutritional absorption, propagation techniques, and field application under stress conditions. The research results were published in Scientific Data, a journal under the Nature portfolio.

Arma chinensis, a predatory bug in the subfamily Asopinae of the Pentatomidae family, is widely distributed in Northeast, North, and Northwest China. It is an effective natural enemy insect for controlling lepidopteran and coleopteran pests in agriculture and forestry. However, the lack of high-quality genomic resources has hindered in-depth research on its reproductive regulation, nutritional efficiency, and stress physiology.

This study confirmed that A. chinensis has seven pairs of chromosomes through karyotype analysis. By integrating PacBio, HiSeq, and Hi-C technologies, the team assembled a genome of 986 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 134.98 Mb, successfully anchoring the assembly to seven chromosomes. A total of 20,853 protein-coding genes were predicted, with 84.79% of the genes successfully annotated. Furthermore, the study analyzed gene expression patterns across various developmental stages, including eggs, five nymphal instars, and adults.

Fu Luyao, a 2022 master's student, is the first author of the paper, and Associate Researcher Liu Chenxi is the corresponding author. The research team included master's students Lin Changjin, Xu Wenyan, Cheng Hongmei, Liu Dianyu, Ma Le, Su Zhihan, and Yan Xiaoyu, as well as Associate Professor Dong Xiaolin from Yangtze University. This study was supported by a project from the United States Department of Agriculture (59-0212-9-001-F).