Cuticular hydrocarbons of four species of social wasps in the subfamily vespinae: Vespa crabro L., Dolichovespula maculata (L.), Vespula squamosa (Drury), and Vespula maculifrons (Buysson)

Abstract

1. 1. Cuticular hydrocarbon compositions were determined for queens and workers of: Vespa crabro L., Dolichovespula maculata (L.), Vespula squamosa (Drury), and Vespula maculifrons (Buysson). 2. 2. The major cuticular hydrocarbons of Vespa crabro workers were pentacosene (52%), and n- pentacosane (16%). 3. 3. The major hydrocarbons of Dolichovespula maculata workers were n- heptacosane (28%), 3-methylheptacosane (12%), and 3,13-dimethylheptacosane (11%). 4. 4. The cuticular hydrocarbon compositions of Vespula squamosa and V. maculifrons workers were very similar. n- Heptacosane was the major hydrocarbon (14%) of V. squamosa and 13-methylnonacosane was the major hydrocarbon (19%) of V. maculifrons. 5. 5. For each wasp species, the hydrocarbon composition of the queens was distinct from that of the workers.