The Wasps and the Bees: Sex development in bees and wasps depends on whether or not they develop from a haploid unfertilized egg (resulting in males) or diploid fertilized egg (resulting in females). Although these ploidy-level developmental processes are conserved among bees and wasps, the mechanisms that direct development down a male or female pathway differ significantly. By examining the sex-determining genes in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia , Verhulst et al. (p. 620 ) have shown that a maternal messenger RNA (mRNA) is necessary to initiate the female pathway. The mRNA operates in combination with conserved maternal and paternal genes to produce females, which explains why females are diploids. In unfertilized eggs, maternal provisioning of the gene transcript is too low to initiate the female pathway.

Biological control is widely successful at controlling pests, but effective biocontrol agents are now more difficult to import from countries of origin due to more restrictive international trade laws (the Nagoya Protocol). Coupled with increasing demand, the efficacy of existing and new biocontrol agents needs to be improved with genetic and genomic approaches. Although they have been underutilised in the past, application of genetic and genomic techniques is becoming more feasible from both technological and economic perspectives. We review current methods and provide a framework for using them. First, it is necessary to identify which biocontrol trait to select and in what direction. Next, the genes or markers linked to these traits need be determined, including how to implement this information into a selective breeding program. Choosing a trait can be assisted by modelling to account for the proper agro‐ecological context, and by knowing which traits have sufficiently high heritability values. We provide guidelines for designing genomic strategies in biocontrol programs, which depend on the organism, budget, and desired objective. Genomic approaches start with genome sequencing and assembly. We provide a guide for deciding the most successful sequencing strategy for biocontrol agents. Gene discovery involves quantitative trait loci analyses, transcriptomic and proteomic studies, and gene editing. Improving biocontrol practices includes marker‐assisted selection, genomic selection and microbiome manipulation of biocontrol agents, and monitoring for genetic variation during rearing and post‐release. We conclude by identifying the most promising applications of genetic and genomic methods to improve biological control efficacy.

Paternal factor specifies female wasps: Not all animals have specialized sex chromosomes to determine their sex. In hymenopteran insects, for example, unfertilized eggs become males and fertilized eggs become females. Prior work showed that the paternal genome provides instruction for female development. Zou et al. identified a sex determination instructor gene, wasp overruler of masculinization , with parent-of-origin effect, in the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis . It is only transcribed from the paternally provided genome in fertilized eggs to initiate female development. This discovery provides insights into the molecular basis and evolution of sex determination. Science , this issue p. 1115