Belonocnema treatae isolate:2016_QV_RU_SX_M_011 Genome sequencing and assembly

Plant galls formed by insects are among the most bizarre structures produced by interspecific interactions. The initiation, development, and maintenance of galls is controlled by the insect, but the gall is composed of plant tissue, making this a complex, insect-induced extended phenotype. Gall induction has evolved independently in six insect orders and has been described for >13,000 insect species. The cynipid gall wasp Belonocnema treatae is an emerging model system in studying gall induction. Additionally, B. treatae provides a wonderful system to study the processes underlying geographic and environmental patterns of biodiversity and antagonistic selection between sexes and different life stages. Overall the genome of B. treatae will be an excellent resource for many aspects of biology.