We are not the same: a chemical heterogeneity between workers in the yellow legged hornet

Cuticular hydrocarbon compounds (CHCs) are chemical signals used in various recognition processes. These semiochemical compounds represent the chemical signature of insects, in order to transmit their identity to conspecifics. The chemical signature of individuals, which can vary qualitatively and quantitatively, therefore contributes to the social cohesion of nestmates. In our study, we analysed the chemical signature of workers in the invasive hornet, Vespa velutina nigrithorax, in order to gain a better understanding of their chemical communication system, which appears to be highly effective. In the field, different colonies were analysed and different behaviours were observed at a given moment. We therefore wondered whether the workers had a colonial signature and whether the different behaviours observed at a given time revealed chemical differences between the workers.