Use of solid-phase microextraction in the investigation of chemical communication in social wasps

Solid-phase microextraction has been used to investigate chemical communica tion in several social wasp species. Using the technique to analyse exocrin e gland secretions, we demonstrate that the results are comparable with tho se obtained with the more classical methods that use solvents, eliminating, in many cases, the shortcomings of these methods in insect pheromone analy sis. As a result of its simplicity this technique is very suitable for rese arch on the chemical ecology of social wasps, and on insect communication i n general. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.