# Genome assembly of the temporary socially parasitic spiny ant Polyrhachis lamellidens and its host Camponotus japonicus

## TL;DR

This paper presents the genome assemblies of a temporary socially parasitic ant and its host, providing insights into their genetic similarities and the biology of social parasitism.

## Contribution

The study provides the first chromosomal genome assembly of Polyrhachis lamellidens and a draft genome of its host Camponotus japonicus.

## Key findings

- The P. lamellidens genome is 214.1 Mb with 95.5% completeness and 13,703 protein-coding genes.
- The C. japonicus genome is 314.2 Mb with 99.0% completeness and 11,207 protein-coding genes.
- P. lamellidens and C. japonicus show high synteny and similar chemosensory proteins, with higher expression in newly mated queens.

## Abstract

Polyrhachis lamellidens is a temporary socially parasitic ant. The newly mated P. lamellidens queen takes over a colony of several Camponotus ant species and uses the labour of the host workers in the early stages of social parasitism. To facilitate genomic resources for these species, we assembled and annotated the chromosomal genome of P. lamellidens using the 10× Genomics linked-read and Hi-C sequencing, and the draft genome of its host, Camponotus japonicus, using long-read sequencing with the Revio system. The P. lamellidens chromosomal genome assembly is 214.1 Mb, 95.5% BUSCO completeness, and contains 13,703 protein-coding genes. The C. japonicus draft genome assembly is 314.2 Mb, 99.0% BUSCO completeness, and contains 11,207 protein-coding genes. Genome-wide phylogeny and synteny analysis confirmed the phylogenetic position of P. lamellidens and C. japonicus, and a high level of synteny with the genome of both ant species. In addition, P. lamellidens possesses nearly identical chemosensory proteins to its host, C. japonicus, and these genes tended to exhibit higher expression levels in the newly mated queen. The genome assemblies of P. lamellidens and its host C. japonicus provide a valuable resource for the molecular biological and bioinformatic basis for studying the strategy of social parasitism in ants.