Near chromosome-level genome assembly of <i>Neomusotima conspurcatalis</i> gives insights into the evolution of moth genome architecture and fern–insect interactions

Plant-insect interactions are the foundation of ecosystems globally, yet we are still determining the underlying mechanisms through which these relationships evolve. The co-evolution between insects and their host plants should shape the genomes of both partners, and genes involved in interaction specificity should show unique genomic signatures (e.g., rapid evolution, gene family expansions). Biological control programs are an excellent system for disentangling the genomics and molecular biology of the establishment of an insect and its host plant specificity. Fern-insect relationships are among the most poorly understood, and ferns have long been thought to have few interactions with insects, although recent evidence suggests that these relationships are under-sampled and under-studied. Here, we present a near-chromosome level genome assembly of the crambid moth Neomusotima conspurcatalis, a biological control agent employed in the management of the invasive vining fern Lygodium microphyllum. We use this novel genomic resource to 1) investigate the relationships among the Crambidae using genome-wide sequences and genome structure and 2) examine gene family evolution across this phylogeny. Our results reveal highly conserved genome structure across this family of moths, and expansions in odorant receptor gene families that may be involved in the highly specific interaction of N. conspurcatalis with L. microphyllum. This work highlights the utility of genomics in biological control, and the utility of biological control in informing fundamental understanding of plant-insect interactions.