Shani Inbar

1 Introduction Long-chain cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are a major component of the cuticular lipids of insects, which function as touch pheromones communicating a range of chemical signals (Drijfhout et al. 2009). For example, males and females display distinct, species-specific CHCs and other cuticular lipids that are used for mate choice in different species, including Drosophila fruit flies (Ferveur and Cobb 2010; Jezovit et al. 2017; Khallaf et al.

1 Introduction Colonial identity is the foundation and a prerequisite for any social interaction in insect societies. The ability to recognize nestmates and to discriminate them from aliens is needed for protecting the colony's food reserves and brood from being plundered and for preserving territorial control over resources around the nest.

Abstract Cuticluar hydrocarbons (CHCs) are a ubiquitous component of insect cuticles that are used for a wide range of chemical signaling functions, especially recognition. Recognition and other signals are vital for the maintainance of insularity and cooperation in social insect colonies. Therefore, we expect natural selection on the composition and variabitlity of social insect CHC profiles.