Thermoelectric (seebeck) effect of the cuticle of social wasps

The thermoelectric (Seebeck) coefficient ($\text{S =}\text{ΔV}\text{ΔT}$) in various cuticular areas of the Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) fluctuates from 0·3 to 2·4 mV deg^?1 within a temperature range of 27–36°C and when the temperature difference between the two measuring electrodes (ΔT) is 0·6–8·0°C. The values measured on the brown-colored cuticle suggest an n-type conduction, while those measured on the yellow-colored cuticle point to a p-type conduction. It is suggested hornets use this phenomenon for temperature detection.