Longhorned beetle (Cerambycidae s.l.) genome architecture and evolution

The beetle family Cerambycidae, commonly known as longhorned beetles, includes over 35,000 described species with remarkable ecological and morphological diversity. As wood-feeding insects, many of which are economically significant pests, cerambycids play important roles in forest, agricultural, and urban ecosystems. Despite their prominence, genomic investigations into their adaptation and evolution have lagged behind, primarily due to limited availability of whole-genome and transcriptomic resources. As a result, broad-scale patterns of genome structure and evolutionary change within Cerambycidae remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we have generated several high-quality genome assemblies and transcriptomes from exemplar species representing major cerambycid subfamilies. In combination with publicly available genomic datasets, we aim to investigate the evolutionary dynamics of cerambycid genomes. Specifically, we will assess genome size variation, repetitive element composition, gene family evolution, and structural conservation across lineages using comparative genomic approaches. Our goals are to identify lineage-specific genomic signatures, explore links between genome features and ecological traits, and build a phylogenomic framework to guide future evolutionary studies in the group. This work will provide foundational insights into the genomic architecture and diversification of Cerambycidae, creating a valuable resource for both basic and applied beetle research.