This study employed transcriptomics to screen and functionally annotate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across different growth and development stages of the Illiberis pruni, aiming to identify key genes and signaling pathways associated with its growth and development. High-throughput sequencing technology Illumina HiSeq^TM 2000 was used to detect the transcriptomic differences in larvae, pupae and adults of the I. pruni, and DEGs after sequencing were verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The results showed that a total of 80 528 Unigenes were obtained from the transcriptome data, among which 21 743 Unigene with a length of more than 1 kb were obtained, 25 643 Unigenes were annotated in the seven major databases, and 12 DEGs across different growth and development stages were identified, with RNA-Seq results consistent with RT-qPCR data. The results of this study will expand the growth and development gene database of the I. pruni, and further provide data support for its research at the molecular level.