Colony and Caste Specific Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles in the Common Japanese Hornet, Vespa analis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

In this study, the influence of individual cuticular hydrocarbons on nestmate recognition in Japanese hornets was investigated. Cuticular hydrocarbons were extracted from the individuals of several colonies of Japanese hornets, Vespa analis Fablicius (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), and analyzed by combined gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the case of V analis, the results of the GC-MS analyses showed 12 major components and 20 minor components. The results showed some intraspecific variation in the quantities of each component of the profiles even within the same colony and same cast. The number of cuticular hydrocarbon compounds of V. analis was relatively high compared with that of V crabro. Discriminant analysis of the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of the workers and queens showed that the wasps could be grouped by colony and by caste even if the colonies were located at a close distance. The cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of workers and males were different.