Seebeck effect (thermo-emf ), thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of social hornet cuticle were measured in a direction perpendicular to the cuticular surface. The obtained value of the Seebeck coefficient (S) was about 3 ± 0.5 mV K −1 and its sign corresponded to an n-type (electronic) conductivity. Hornet cuticle is shown to be a fairly good heat insulator, with recorded values of the heat conductivity as low as 0.1-0.2 W m −1 K −1 . The measured value of the electrical

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... ty in the linear regime is σ = 8.5 × 10 −5 −1 cm −1 . The thermoelectric figure of merit is computed. Implications for possible exploitation as a natural thermoelectric heat pump are discussed.