The solar cell in hornet cuticle: nanometer to micrometer scale.

This paper focuses on structures observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy upon and within the abdominal cuticle of the Oriental hornet, Vespa orientalis. Taken together, these structures form an 'organ' whose function is the absorption ef sunlight and storage of the resultant electrical energy. In principle, this organ resembles a solar cell.

Learning and navigation of hornets: role of the various light perceiving organs.

The present study reports on experiments carried out on workers of Vespa orientalis (Hymenoptera, Vespinae). The experiments involved: learning of the workers upon their breeding box, evaluation of their ability to navigate back to the breeding box from ever increasing distances, and the effect which masking the various light perceiving organs has on the homing flight of hornets. The test hornets were removed from their breeding box to which they became accustomed and then released at gradually increasing distances from it (100 to 1000 meters) so as to assess their ability to return home.

Grid formation in hornet cuticle induced by silk spun during pupation.

Examinations carried out via atomic force microscope (AFM) on the Oriental hornet Vespa orientalis (Hymenoptera, Vespinae) revealed, on the cuticle of the gaster in the region of the yellow stripes, flats bearing a grid in the form of parallel strips. Such configurations, of the same dimensions, were obtained also by superposition imaging of the longitudinal fibrils in the pupal silk weave, which are comprised of a central fibril of fibroin and an outer coating of sericin. In the latter instance, the configurations were revealed in regions where the outer coating of the fibers was disrupted or occurred only intermittently.

Micromorphology of the dorsal ocelli of the Oriental hornet.

The development of vision in animals throughout evolution has been reviewed by Sir Stewart Duke-Elder, whose survey of the sense of sight ranges from lowly Crustaceans to mammals and man. According to Duke-Elder each ocellus is formed by the "fusion of two or more ocelli, each with its own retina and pigment cup". This process of 'ocellation' probably occurred independently in a number of phyla.

Silk produced by hornets: thermophotovoltaic properties-a review.

This article deals with the silk weave produced by pupating larvae of the Oriental hornet and its electric properties. Larvae of this hornet commence pupation at approximately 2 weeks of age. Creation of the cocoonal silk weave requires a number of hours and the encased pupa remains in the cocoon for approximately 2 more weeks before ecloding as an adult.