Difference Analysis of the Chemical Composition of the Cuticular of Vespa Mandarinia and Vespa Velutina

In order to clarify the main components of the cuticular compounds of the Vespa mandarinia and Vespa velutina, we analysed the chemical composition of the cuticular of the two wasps using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that a total of 32 compounds were identified from the cuticular of the two wasps, dominated by hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids and alcohols, which accounted for 70.97% of the determined compound species. The types and contents of cuticular compounds differed between the two wasp species. The five most abundant compounds in Vespa mandarinia were 13-Methylheptacosane (32.31%), 2-Methyltetracosane (23.53%), Dotriacontane (14.61%), (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid (12.80%), and Cholesterol (5.70%), while the five most abundant compounds in Vespa velutina were Eicosane (22.45%), Tris(2,4-ditert-butylphenyl) phosphite (19.13%), Dotriacontane (17.55%), (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid (15.66%), and 13-Methylheptacosane (5.52%). Of the five compounds with the highest relative amounts in the two wasps, 2-Methyltetracosane was present only in the Vespa Mandarinia. The relative contents of tridecane and (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid were relatively close in the cuticular of the two wasps, while the relative contents of Eicosane, 13-Methyloctadecanes, Tris(2,4-ditert-butylphenyl) phosphite had large variations in the cuticular of two wasps. The study of the cuticular compounds of two wasp species can help to further reveal their habits and behavioural characteristics, with a view to providing a reference for better pest control and green prevention and control.