Solar energy harvesting in the epicuticle of the oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis)

Abstract

The Oriental hornet worker correlates its digging activity with solar insolation. Solar radiation passes through the epicuticle, which exhibits a grating-like structure, and continues to pass through layers of the exo-endocuticle until it is absorbed by the pigment melanin in the brown-colored cuticle or xanthopterin in the yellow-colored cuticle. The correlation between digging activity and the ability of the cuticle to absorb part of the solar radiation implies that the Oriental hornet may harvest parts of the solar radiation. In this study, we explore this intriguing possibility by analyzing the biophysical properties of the cuticle. We use rigorous coupled wave analysis simulations to show that the cuticle surfaces are structured to reduced reflectance and act as diffraction gratings to trap light and increase the amount absorbed in the cuticle. A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was constructed in order to show the ability of xanthopterin to serve as a light-harvesting molecule.

Activity rhythm and action range of workers of the invasive hornet predator of honeybees Vespa velutina, measured by radio frequency identification tags

“…The observed enhancement of the hornet activity during the day with a maximum around noon, already observed by video analysis (Monceau et al., 2017), can be either attributed to an increase in temperature or in UVB solar irradiation. Indeed, V. orientalis is able to convert solar into metabolic energy with photovoltaic like cuticle cells (Ishay, 2004; Ishay & Kirshboim, 2000; Plotkin et al., 2010; Volynchik, Plotkin, Bergman, & Ishay, 2008). Such a reaction has not been investigated in V. velutina for now but should receive attention as it would also explain its performance in hovering for preying honeybees (Monceau, Arca, et al., 2013).…”

Native Prey and Invasive Predator Patterns of Foraging Activity: The Case of the Yellow-Legged Hornet Predation at European Honeybee Hives

“…Indeed, an increased activity during noon-hours has already been described in V. orientalis and attributed to the UVB irradiation variations [74], [75]. Recent works have compared the cuticle of V. orientalis to photovoltaic cells converting solar energy into metabolic energy for flight muscles [74], [76]. Such accumulation could facilitate stationary flight but also flight speed and acceleration performances thus improving the hunting efficiency.…”

Some Observations on Oriental Hornet (Vespa orientalis) In Jodhpur (Rajasthan), India

“…The brown pigment (melanin) of the cuticle is arranged such that sunlight can be split. A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) for light harvesting properties of Xanthopterin has been tested 34 . Thus, possible use of hornets for harvesting solar energy could be investigated further.…”