The complex system of communication used by social insects is responsible for their success on Earth. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are considered the most commonly used form of communication among social insects. The best-known function of CHCs is to distinguish nestmates, providing cues to the whole colony to identify potential threats. In some species, CHCs function as queen pheromones, which contribute to the queens’ ability to regulate the reproductive division of labor. Additionally, differences of CHCs were described in castes and they are also important in sex recognition. Here, we reinvestigated the chemical composition on the cuticle of German wasp Vespula germanica and we found that proportions of linear alkanes were more abundant in the cuticle of queens than other castes. Chemical analysis between caste and sex, including data of virgin queens and males, showed that each group possesses different compositions on their cuticle, being mostly quantitative differences. Thus, individuals of V. germanica may recognize and discriminate caste and sex through subtle chemical variations, or alternatively, based on templates used in nestmate recognition. The chemical analysis provides correlative evidence of CHCs being used as cues in the chemical communication of this species.

社交昆虫使用复杂的通讯系统负责其在地球上的成功。表皮碳氢化合物（CHCs）被认为是社会昆虫之间最常用的交流形式。CHC的最著名功能是区分巢伙伴，为整个菌落提供线索，以识别潜在威胁。在某些物种中，CHC充当皇后信息素，这有助于皇后调节生殖分工的能力。此外，在种姓中描述了CHC的差异，它们在性别识别中也很重要。在这里，我们重新研究了德国黄蜂黄蜂（Vespula germanica）的表皮化学成分我们发现皇后角质中直链烷烃的比例比其他种姓更丰富。种姓和性别之间的化学分析，包括未婚女王/王后和雄性的数据，表明每组在其表皮上具有不同的成分，主要是数量上的差异。因此，德国链霉菌的个体可以通过细微的化学变化来识别和区分种姓和性别，或者可替代地，基于巢式识别中使用的模板。化学分析提供了CHC用作该物种化学交流的线索的相关证据。