RNA-seq dataset of superworm (Zophobas atratus) feeding on polystyrene foam.

Superworms, the larvae of Zophobas atratus Fabricius 1775 (also known as Zophobas morio Fabricius 1776), can not only survive on a diet consisting solely of polystyrene (PS) but also degrade it. This degradation is thought to be a collaborative process involving enzymes from both the gut microbiome and the host insect. Although the effects of a PS diet on the gut microbiome of superworms have been studied, few studies have focused on the changes in host gene expression. This RNA-seq dataset was collected to investigate gene expression in three parts of superworms (head, gut, and leg) reared in three groups with wheat bran, PS, and starvation diets. Total RNA was extracted from the heads, guts, and legs of 24 superworms subjected to wheat bran, PS, or starvation conditions. Strand-specific RNA sequencing was performed after rRNA depletion using the NextSeq 1000 PE150 platform. The CLC Genomic Workbench was used for reference-based RNA-seq analysis. We also used rnaSPAdes to assemble unmapped reads that could not be aligned to the reference genome to generate contigs, including genes expressed in the microbiome. These RNA-seq datasets provide a valuable resource for identifying genes encoding PS-degrading enzymes involved in various metabolic pathways in superworms.