High‐quality reference genome of predatory mite Neoseiulus californicusMcGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) provides insights into its biological traits and potential RNAi off‐target effects

Abstract BACKGROUND Neoseiulus californicus is a predatory mite that can control various spider mites and other small arthropods. Despite its acknowledged effectiveness in the natural enemy market, a crucial knowledge gap exists in understanding the genomic features related to its predatory traits and adaptation. With the increasing emphasis on modern pest management strategies and dynamic environmental changes in plant production trends, constructing a reliable genomic resource for N. californicus becomes imperative. RESULTS In this study, we provided a high‐quality genome assembly and annotation of N. californicus , with a size of 188.43 Mb and 12 946 predicted genes. We identified genomic features and traits related to its detoxification, stress response, sensory system, mobility, secretory toxins, digestive enzymes and horizontally transferred genes (HGTs) by comparative genomics. We also predicted the potential off‐target effects of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) that could be used to control spider mites, based on public data and the N. californicus genome. CONCLUSION Our study provided a valuable genomic resource for a commercialized predatory mite, offering useful insights for the design of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies in the new era. Further studies are needed to explore the functional roles of key gene families in predatory mites, as well as their interactions with their prey and IPM strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.