Chemical communication is fundamental to maintain cohesion in social insect colonies, and in this communication process, cuticular hydrocarbons act as cues exchanged during interactions between nestmates. However, few studies have investigated intraspecific variation of these compounds in Neotropical swarm-founding wasps. We undertook the present investigation by performing two assessments. First, we assessed whether the cuticular chemical composition of females in Polybia sericea varies according to the degree ovarian development, relative age and different body parts. Second, we assessed whether the cuticular chemical profile of colony members and compounds found in nest materials could be used as complementary tools to assess population differences. To make these determinations, samples were collected from three different populations, and the compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Linear alkanes were found to be the most abundant compounds in the cuticle of females and nest material. Considering the cuticular composition, it was possible to distinguish the females according to degree of ovarian development, relative age and different body parts. In addition, cuticular compounds and nest material were different in the three analyzed populations; therefore, both the cuticular chemical profile of colony members and the chemical profile of nest material can be used as complementary tools to assess population differences.

化学通讯是维持群居昆虫群落凝聚力的基础，在此通讯过程中，表皮碳氢化合物充当巢友之间相互作用期间交换的线索。然而，很少有研究调查这些化合物在新热带蜂群建立黄蜂中的种内变异。我们通过进行两项评估来进行目前的调查。首先，我们评估了Polybia sericea中雌性的表皮化学成分因卵巢发育程度、相对年龄和身体部位不同而异。其次，我们评估了在巢材料中发现的菌落成员和化合物的表皮化学特征是否可以用作评估种群差异的补充工具。为了进行这些测定，从三个不同的群体中收集样品，并通过气相色谱和质谱联用对化合物进行分析。发现直链烷烃是雌性和巢材料的角质层中最丰富的化合物。考虑到表皮成分，可以根据卵巢发育程度、相对年龄和不同身体部位来区分雌性。此外，三个分析种群的表皮化合物和巢材料不同；所以，