Abstract

Introduction The coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima, is a major pest of palm plants in China and is significantly affected by the parasitoid wasp Aseodes hispanarum, which targets the beetle’s larval stage. Methods Using single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing, we constructed a high-quality transcriptome reference to assess gene expression associated with A. hispanarum parasitism in B. longissima. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-parasitism compared with non-parasitized controls. Results Based on 12,196 reference transcripts, a total of 2,120, 467, 500, and 5,749 DEGs were identified at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-parasitism, respectively. Over 75% of DEGs were upregulated across all time points. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of immune-related processes alongside hemocyte differentiation. Validation by quantitative PCR (qPCR) confirmed the consistency and reliability of the RNA-seq results. Discussion The study identified immune-related genes differentially expressed in the fourth instar larvae of B. longissima. Overall, the results indicate that parasitism by A. hispanarum is associated with changes in the immune response of B. longissima larvae, offering preliminary insights into host-parasite interactions for potential biological control strategies.