Light modulates electric phenomena in hornet cuticle

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Bioelectricity
• Insect Physiology

Background:

• Social hornets, like Vespa orientalis, exhibit unique physiological adaptations.
• Endogenous electric effects in insect cuticles are not widely studied.
• Understanding insect bioelectricity can reveal novel biological mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the photoelectric properties of hornet cuticle.
• To determine the role of sunlight, particularly UV wavelengths, in generating electric effects.
• To explore the potential impact of these electric phenomena on hornet daily life and compare them to electric fish.

Main Methods:

• Measurement of voltages and currents in the cuticle of live and dead hornets under varying light conditions.
• Exposure to different wavelengths of sunlight to identify effective radiation.
• Comparison of hornet photoelectric effects with known phenomena in electric fish.

Main Results:

• Hornet cuticle generates voltages (100-200 mV) under illumination and currents (microamperes) in darkness, indicating charge-discharge cycles.
• Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most significant contributor to cuticular voltage generation.
• Photoelectric effects were observed in both live and dead hornets, though reduced in the latter.

Conclusions:

• Social hornets undergo a daily cyclical process of electric charge and discharge in their cuticle, likely influenced by sunlight exposure.
• This photoelectric phenomenon, particularly its UV-driven component, may play a role in hornet physiology and behavior.
• The study highlights a novel bioelectric mechanism in insects with potential parallels to electric fish adaptations.