Improved, annotated reference genome for the highly polyphagous moth <i>Hyphantria cunea</i> (Fall webworm)

Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea) is a widespread, highly polyphagous moth in the family Erebidae, whose native range spans much of North America and invasive range includes Asia and Europe. The species uses over 600 plant species as a larval host, making it among the most generalized insect herbivores described. Its variable host use, wide range, and genetic diversity make fall webworm an attractive emerging model system for the study of diet breadth, but studies have been limited by the lack of a high-quality annotated reference genome. Here we report an annotated, chromosome-scale genome of much improved continuity and completeness over the previously available unannotated fall webworm reference genome. We used PacBioHiFi long reads and Omni-C proximity ligation sequencing technology to produce a de novo assembled genome. Our genome assembly, the first for any species in the genus and third in the family, contains 321 scaffolds spanning 0.572 gigabases with a N50 of 14.6 Mb and BUSCO complete score of 99.1%. This genome will represent a valuable resource for research into the ecology, evolution, and genetics of dietary generalism and diet breadth in insect herbivores.