oryzae has undergone a high gene expansion rate, when compared to other beetles. In addition, we show that many TE families are transcriptionally active, and changes in their expression are associated with insect endosymbiotic state. oryzae has undergone successive bursts of transposable element (TE) amplification, representing 72% of the genome. We sequenced the Sitophilus oryzae genome using a combination of short and long reads to produce the best assembly for a Curculionidae species to date. oryzae has an intracellular symbiotic relationship (endosymbiosis) with the Gram-negative bacterium Sodalis pierantonius and is a valuable model to decipher host-symbiont molecular interactions. The rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae is one of the most important agricultural pests, causing extensive damage to cereal in fields and to stored grains. The transposable element-rich genome of the cereal pest Sitophilus oryzae