Chromosome-level genome assembly of an endoparasitoid Cotesia ruficrus.

Cotesia ruficrus is a gregarious larval endoparasitoid of many important agricultural pest moths, such as the fall armyworm, northern armyworm and rice leaffolder. While eight of Cotesia genomes had been reported, high-quality genomic data of C. ruficrus has yet to be performed. This study presents a chromosome-scale genome assembly of C. ruficrus, utilizing both PacBio HiFi-reads and Hi-C reads. The genome size is about 185.3 Mb harboring 10 chromosomes, and 209 unanchored scaffolds with a scaffold N50 length of 15.81 Mb. The anchored rate of sequences to chromosomes is 95.55%. A total of 14,001 genes have been annotated. This work delivers a first high-quality, chromosome-scale genome for C. ruficrus, enriching the datasets for comparative evolutionary studies within the Cotesia genus. Additionally, it offers a valuable genomic resource for future biological and genetic research, as well as for enhancing pest management strategies, such as biological control.