Scaffold level genome assemblies of two parasitoid biocontrol wasps reveal the parthenogenesis mechanism and an associated novel virus.

We constructed reference genome assemblies for two parasitoid wasp species used as biocontrol agents in Aotearoa New Zealand. Assemblies were generated for Microctonus hyperodae and Microctonus aethiopoides, the latter of which has multiple strains, using Illumina and Hi-C sequencing. A virus genome was also assembled for Microctonus hyperodae filamentous virus, which was discovered infecting Microctonus hyperodae, using Illumina and Nanopore sequencing, which is available with the GenBank accession number OQ439926.