Chloropidae, commonly known as grass flies, represent the most taxonomically diverse family of Diptera Carnoidea, comprising over 3000 described species worldwide. Previous phylogenetic studies of this family have predominantly relied on morphological characters, with mitochondrial genomes being reported in a few species. This study presents 11 newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes (10 Chloropidae and 1 Milichiidae) and provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes for Chloropidae. Apart from 37 standard genes and the control region, three conserved intergenic sequences across Diptera Cyclorrhapha were identified in all available chloropid mitochondrial genomes. Evolutionary rates within Chloropidae exhibit significant variation across subfamilies, with Chloropinae displaying higher rates than the other three subfamilies. Phylogenetic relationships based on mitochondrial genomes were inferred using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. The monophyly of Chloropidae and all four subfamilies is consistently strongly supported, while subfamily relationships within Chloropidae remain poorly resolved, possibly due to rapid evolution.

Sambus kanssuensis Ganglbauer, 1890 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), distributed in Gansu and Sichuan Provinces of China, is a phytophagous pest that feeds on the toxic plant Buddleja. However, the genomic resources of this beetle remain unknown, which impedes the understanding of its ecological adaptations. Consequently, this study presents a complete, well-assembled, and annotated genome of S. kanssuensis. The assembled results indicate a genome size of 312.42 Mb, comprising 206 scaffolds, with an N50 of 34.04 Mb; 98.68% of the assembly sequences were anchored to 11 chromosomes, including one sex chromosome. The genome contains 12,723 protein-coding genes, of which 11,977 have been annotated. BUSCO analysis revealed that the completeness of the chromosome-level genome is 97.9%. This chromosome-level genome provides valuable data for further investigations into detoxification mechanisms, ecological adaptations, population genetics, and the evolution of Buprestidae.

Mecoptera is a small relict order of insects within the Holometabola. Panorpidae is the most speciose family in Mecoptera. They are also known as scorpion flies due to the enlarged and upward recurved male genital bulb. Panorpa liui Hua, 1997, a member of Panorpidae, is a bivoltine species of seasonal color polyphenism in the lowland plain of northeastern China. In this study, we applied PacBio HiFi and Hi–C sequencing technologies to generate a chromosome-level genome reference of P. liui. The assembled genome is 678.26 Mbp in size, with 91.3% being anchored onto 23 pseudo–chromosomes. Benchmarking Universal Single–Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) estimation reveals the completeness of this assembly as 95.1%. By integrating full-length transcriptome and homologs of related species, we generated full annotation of this assembly, yielding a total of 15,960 protein–coding genes, of these, 15,892 genes were anchored on the 23 chromosomes. The high-quality genome provides critical genomic resources for population genetics and phylogenetic research on Mecoptera. It also offers valuable information for exploring the mechanisms underlying seasonal color polymorphism.

The genus Anastoechus plays a crucial role in ecosystems, functioning both as a pollinator and as a natural enemy, with its larvae parasitizing grasshopper egg masses and adults visiting flowers. Despite its ecological significance, research on Anastoechus remains limited. In this study, we present a chromosomal-level genome assembly of Anastoechus asiaticus, utilizing BGI sequencing, PacBio sequencing and High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technology. This represents the first genomic data for the genus Anastoechus, with a final genome size of 512.14 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 82.71 Mb. Genome annotation identified 12,751 protein-coding genes, of which functional annotations are available for 11,305. Additionally, non-coding RNA annotation revealed 1,753 tRNAs, 56 miRNAs, 79 rRNAs, and 49 snRNAs. Repetitive elements account for 290.64 Mb, constituting 56.75% of the genome. This high-quality genome provides valuable data for future studies on population genetics, ecological adaptation, and the evolution of Bombyliidae and other related insect groups.

Sexual dimorphism is widespread in animals and often reflects evolutionary trade-offs between natural and sexual selection. Understanding the genomic and molecular mechanisms underlying these differences is key to revealing how adaptive traits evolve. Bibio rufiventris, commonly known as the fulvous-female march fly, exhibits striking sexual dimorphism, with males uniformly black and possessing enlarged compound eyes, while females display vivid reddish-orange thoraces and abdomens, making it an ideal model for investigating the genetic and molecular basis of sexually dimorphic traits. Here, we present a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of B. rufiventris. Comparative genomics revealed expansion of developmental and metabolic gene families in B. rufiventris, and branch-site analysis identified 265 positively selected genes, some of which are enriched in sensory-system development, including compound eye morphogenesis and multiple sensory perception processes. Transcriptomic profiling showed strong male-biased expression of phototransduction genes (eg ninaE, Arr2, and inaD) in heads, which may explain the enhanced visual processing capability in males. We also find a coordinated regulation pattern across melanin, pteridine, ommochrome, and heme–biliverdin pathways appears to underlie the female-specific coloration. These findings yield novel insights into sexual dimorphism in B. rufiventris in terms of pigment metabolism, visual system specialization, and sensory adaptation. This study also adds to our understanding of the genetic basis and evolutionary diversification of sexual traits in Bibionidae and other Diptera.