A High-Quality Reference Genome and Comparative Genomics of the Widely Farmed Banded Cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) Identifies Selective Breeding Targets

Abstract

Farmed insects have gained attention as an alternative, sustainable source of protein with a lower carbon footprint than traditional livestock. We present a high-quality reference genome for one of the most commonly farmed insects, the banded cricket Gryllodes sigillatus. In addition to its agricultural importance, G. sigillatus is also a model in behavioural and evolutionary ecology research on reproduction and mating systems. We report comparative genomic analyses that clarify the banded cricket's evolutionary history, identify gene family expansions and contractions unique to this lineage, associate these with agriculturally important traits, and identify targets for genome-assisted breeding efforts. The high-quality G. sigillatus genome assembly plus accompanying comparative genomic analyses serve as foundational resources for both applied and basic research on insect farming and behavioural biology, enabling researchers to pinpoint trait-associated genetic variants, unravel functional pathways governing those phenotypes, and accelerate selective breeding efforts to increase the efficacy of large-scale insect farming operations.