The first visual transcriptomes of the jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), including the emerald ash borer (EAB: Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), with evidence of multiple opsin copies and sexual dimorphisms

The first three visual transcriptomes were sequenced for the Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), including both a male and female Emerald Ash Borer (EAB: Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), arguably the most economically important insect pest in North America, and one male Chrysochroa tonkinensis (Descarpentries). Sequences for r-opsin genes were isolated from the transcriptomes and an opsin phylogeny was constructed to predict the number of opsin classes and copies present in these highly visually-oriented beetles. Unlike all other beetles previously studied (two opsin classes with a single copy of each recovered), all three buprestids were found to have two opsin classes with four opsin copies (two long wavelength and two ultra-violet). Furthermore, the male EAB was found to have a fifth copy of an additional long-wavelength opsin. This data presents compelling evidence for the visual complexity within this stunning group of charismatic and economically important beetles.