The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Oxytorus armatus Thomson, 1883.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Oxytorus armatus (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 367.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 56.22 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Banded Burying beetle, Nicrophorus investigator Zetterstedt, 1824.

We present a genome assembly from a female Nicrophorus investigator (Banded Burying beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Silphidae). The genome sequence is 202.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 23.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 11,046 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of the Oak Nycteoline moth, Nycteola revayana (Scopoli, 1772).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Nycteola revayana (the Oak Nycteoline moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Nolidae). The genome sequence is 621.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 26 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.25 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 19,235 protein-coding genes.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Exephanes ischioxanthus (Gravenhorst, 1829).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Exephanes ischioxanthus (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 284.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 19.43 kilobases in length.

New Species of Grotea (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Labeninae) from Ecuador, with New Records and a Key to the Neotropical Species.

Here we describe two new Grotea species from Ecuador, G. akakana Mazón & Bordera sp. nov., and G. romeri Mazón sp. nov., as well as the male of G. cundinamarquesa Herrera-Flórez 2018. G. akakana sp. nov. is characterized by the combination of a postgenal process long, a 45-flagellomeres antenna without a white band and a mesopleuron black with two yellow spots separated by a red one. On the other hand, G. romeri sp. nov. is characterized by the combination of a postgenal process very short, a 36-flagellomeres antenna without a white band, a propodeum with a long and narrow area lateralis, uninterrupted yellow-colored orbits and a mesopleuron black with a yellow spot in the middle. The species G. santandereana Herrera-Flórez 2018 and G. surinamese Herrera-Flórez 2019 are recorded from Ecuador for the first time. This brings the total of described Grotea species to 31, all from the New World, with 27 of these exclusively Neotropical. A key for the identification of Neotropical species is included.

Species richness estimation of the Afrotropical Darwin wasps (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae).

Species richness is one of the fundamental metrics of biodiversity. Estimating species richness helps spotlight taxonomic groups that are particularly under-studied, such as the highly diverse Darwin wasps. The only available estimate of the number of Darwin wasps in the Afrotropics proposed almost 11,000 species, compared to the 2,322 recorded species. However, it relied exclusively on the ratio of morphospecies to described species in Henry Townes' personal collection. We provide an updated estimate of the Afrotropical Darwin wasp species, using empirical data from multiple sources, including the increase in species numbers following generic revisions, morphospecies sorting in natural history collections, and diversity patterns of better-studied insects (butterflies) for extrapolation. Our analyses suggest that our knowledge of Darwin wasps is highly incomplete, with only 13-22% of species known in the five most extensively studied countries in the Afrotropics. We estimate 9,206-15,577 species of Darwin wasps within the entire Afrotropics, with the highest concentration expected in the Equatorial Afrotropics and Madagascar. Due to data constraints, our approach tends to underestimate diversity at each step, rendering the upper estimate (15,577 species) more realistic. We highlight reasons contributing to the gap between recorded and estimated species richness, including logistical and financial factors, as well as post-colonial influences.

The ectoparasitoid wasp Heterospilussicanus (Marshall, 1888) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Doryctinae) as a natural enemy of Gastralluspubens Fairmaire, 1875 (Coleoptera, Ptinidae) in Italy.

Heterospilussicanus (Marshall, 1888) is redescribed and illustrated based on the holotype of Dendrosotersicanus Marshall, 1888 and on recently collected material from its type locality (Sicily, Italy). Previous host records for this species are unreliable. Here, the host of H.sicanus, the rare ptinid beetle Gastralluspubens Fairmaire, 1875, is recorded for the first time, having been reared in a historic library in Palermo, Italy. Heterospilussicanus is compared with the similar species Telebolus (= Heterospilus) corsicus Marshall, 1888, which was described in the same monograph from Corsica (France), and it is also redescribed and illustrated. Atoreuteusceballosi Docavo Alberti, 1960, syn. nov. is synonymised under Heterospilussicanus (Marshall, 1888), and Hormiopterus (= Rhaconotus) ollivieri Giraud var. flava Fahringer, 1931, syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Heterospiluscephi Rohwer, 1925. A key for determination of the Western Palaearctic Heterospilus species with a striate vertex is provided and the distributions of H.sicanus and H.corsicus are discussed.

The genome sequence of the Small Ranunculus, Hecatera dysodea (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Hecatera dysodea (the Small Ranunculus; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 640.9 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z and W sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 12,213 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Amblyteles armatorius (Forster, 1771).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Amblyteles armatorius (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 216 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.6 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of Clancy's Rustic, Caradrina kadenii (Freyer, 1836).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Caradrina kadenii (Clancy's Rustic; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 426.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.

A sampling strategy for genome sequencing the British terrestrial arthropod fauna.

The Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) project aims to sequence and assemble high-quality genomes from all eukaryote species in Britain and Ireland, with the first phase of the project concentrating on family-level coverage plus species of particular ecological, biomedical or evolutionary interest. We summarise the processes involved in (1) assessing the UK arthropod fauna and the status of individual species on UK lists; (2) prioritising and collecting species for initial genome sequencing; (3) handling methods to ensure that high-quality genomic DNA is preserved; and (4) compiling standard operating procedures for processing specimens for genome sequencing, identification verification and voucher specimen curation. We briefly explore some lessons learned from the pilot phase of DToL and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The genome sequence of the Grey Dagger, Acronicta psi (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Acronicta psi (the Grey Dagger; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 405 megabases in span. The whole assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases long.

The genome sequence of the Four-dotted Footman, Cybosia mesomella (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Cybosia mesomella (the Four-dotted Footman; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Erebidae). The genome sequence is 948 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Festoon, Apoda limacodes (Hufnagel, 1766).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Apoda limacodes (the Festoon; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Limacodidae). The genome sequence is 800 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 25 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the ichneumon wasp Buathra laborator (Thunberg, 1822).

We present a genome assembly from an individual Buathra laborator (Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 330 megabases in span. Over 60% of the assembly is scaffolded into 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 35.8 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Shuttle-shaped Dart, Agrotis puta (Hübner, 1803).

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Agrotis puta (the Shuttle-shaped Dart; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 522 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 15,136 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Heteropelma amictum (Fabricius, 1775).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Heteropelma amictum (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 226.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 20.65 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of the Turnip Sawfly, Athalia rosae (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Athalia rosae (the Turnip Sawfly; Arhropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Athaliidae). The genome sequence is 172 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into eight chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.3 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 11,393 protein coding genes.

The genome sequence of a chalcid wasp, Gastracanthus pulcherrimus (Westwood, 1833).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Gastracanthus pulcherrimus (a chalcid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Pteromalidae). The genome sequence is 1,010.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 5 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 24.4 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Tromatobia lineatoria (Villers, 1789).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Tromatobia lineatoria (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 383.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 21 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 23.25 kilobases in length.