Comparative study of the composition of hornet larval saliva, its effect on behaviour and role of trophallaxis

Nutritional Value of the Larvae of the Alien Invasive Wasp Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Amino Acid Composition of the Larval Saliva

“…The beverage products do not contain the actual larval saliva of V. mandarinia, but an amino acid mixture composed of the same amino acid composition of V. mandarinia larval saliva. The products were developed on the basis of a series of investigations on exercise endurance enhancement effects by supplementation of the amino acid mixture of which the composition is the same as the larval saliva of V. mandarinia [25][26][27]. This idea has come from trophallaxis, a unique way of survival observed in social wasps.…”

“…This idea has come from trophallaxis, a unique way of survival observed in social wasps. Trophallaxis is common among wasps; carnivorous larvae which feed on meat pellets prepared by adult workers, while larvae produce and pass an oral exudate to adult workers in response [27,28]. For social wasps, larval saliva is considered a source of energy and motivation for adult workers that fly a distance of about 100 km daily only to prepare meat pellets for larvae [29].…”

“…For social wasps, larval saliva is considered a source of energy and motivation for adult workers that fly a distance of about 100 km daily only to prepare meat pellets for larvae [29]. Takashi and colleagues reported the composition of amino acids in the larval saliva from five species of hornets including Vespa mandarinia, Vespa crabo, Vespa tropica, Vespa analis and Vespa xanthoptera, collected in central Japan, which has a temperate climate [27]. Based on this research, other related researches were performed subsequently, which were focused on observations of the metabolism of animals administered an amino acid mixture of an identical composition to the larval saliva of V. mandarinia [25,26,[29][30][31][32].…”

“…Based on this research, other related researches were performed subsequently, which were focused on observations of the metabolism of animals administered an amino acid mixture of an identical composition to the larval saliva of V. mandarinia [25,26,[29][30][31][32]. The vespa amino acid mixture (VAAM) was coined, based on the free amino acid composition of the larval saliva of V. mandarina, which may be related to aggressiveness and the longest distance flown for hunting [25,27,29]. Studies on the metabolism using of exercising animals revealed that amino acids in larval saliva may act as energy sources and enhance exercise performance through controlling the metabolism [25,26,[29][30][31].…”

“…Studies on the metabolism using of exercising animals revealed that amino acids in larval saliva may act as energy sources and enhance exercise performance through controlling the metabolism [25,26,[29][30][31]. Vespa mandarinia, the most dominant hornet species in central Japan, has been used as a reference, as it boasts the longest flight distance and the most extensive hunting domains [25,27,29].…”