UC Riverside

Background: Ampulex compressa, the emerald jewel wasp, is a parasitoid wasp that uniquely incapacitates its cockroach prey. The species is notable for its neurologically active venom, which contains a complex mixture of peptides, primarily ampulexins, which facilitate behavioral manipulation of its host.Methods: We conducted comprehensive genomic and mitogenomic analyses of a male Ampulex compressa using short-read Illumina sequencing for nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA assembly. The study employed advanced bioinformatic tools for sequence assembly, annotation, and phylogenetic analysis, including SPAdes, GetOrganelle, Augustus, Geneious, and phylogenetic inference using RAxML and MrBayes based on mitochondrial protein-coding genes. Results: The assembled nuclear genome measured 277.7 Mbp across 11,507 scaffolds, while the mitochondrial genome was 17,097 bp long, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis positioned Ampulex compressa closely with other aculeate parasitoids, corroborating the taxonomic placement within Apoidea. Gene annotation revealed four ampulexin genes within a single scaffold, suggesting a potential gene family. Additionally, karyotyping identified 11 chromosomes, aligning with the expected number for the species. Conclusion: This study provides the first complete mitochondrial genome and an extensive nuclear genome assembly for Ampulex compressa. Findings confirm the conserved nature of mitochondrial genomes across Apoidea and support ongoing research into the evolutionary adaptations associated with parasitoidism, such as venom production. Further comparative genomic studies are encouraged to explore gene functions and evolutionary trajectories within Hymenoptera.