Popillia japonica Genome sequencing (Italy), geographic variation and response to treatments.

Aim of the project is to sequence and annotate the nuclear genome of the agricultural pest Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) targeting the population that invaded Italy in 2014. Multiple specimens from ancestral as well as invasive populations will be analysed to invastigate genetic variability connected to colonization and/or selection. RNAseq data will be analysed to study response to insecticide treatments. Primary data will be WGS-DNA as well as total- and mRNAseq sequences.