Paper Wasps
What are they?
Large and impressive wasps, made all the more so by their inquisitiveness and often close association with manmade environments. Though social wasps, they typically live in rather small colonies and their stalked nests are a familiar sight as they are often found hanging from under the roofs of wooden buildings, shelters and similar places. Most species specialize in predating caterpillars.
Identification
Identification can be difficult, but take careful note of leg color, abdomen markings and face pattern.
Polistes dominula
Introduced from Europe and rapidly becoming our commonest species. Differs from native Polistes species in being black-and-yellow in color and thus looking more like a yellowjacket - though note the longer legs. Builds nests in more secluded places than other paper wasps, such as behind shutters or - commonly - in bird houses.
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Polistes exclamans
Perhaps our most attractive paper wasp, with contrasting chestnut and yellow bands on the abdomen and richly marked legs.
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Polistes bellicosus
A tricolored species with a black 'saddle' on the thorax and narrow yellow rings on the abdomen. Legs are mostly rust-colored.
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Polistes annularis
A tricolored species with largely yellow legs and a bright yellow ring near the base of the abdomen.
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Polistes metricus
A dark brown and chestnut species with largely yellow legs.
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