Chromosome-level assembly and annotation of the pearly heath Coenonympha arcania butterfly genome.

We present the first chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of the pearly heath Coenonympha arcania, generated with a PacBio HiFi sequencing approach, and complemented with Hi-C data. We additionally compare synteny, gene and repeat content between C. arcania and other Lepidopteran genomes. This reference genome will enable future population genomics studies with Coenonympha butterflies, a species-rich genus which encompasses some of the most highly endangered butterfly taxa in Europe.