''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of

paper wasps Paper wasps are a type of social vespid wasps. The term is typically used to refer to members of the vespid subfamily Polistinae, though it often colloquially includes members of the subfamilies Vespinae (hornets and yellowjackets) and Stenoga ...

and the only genus in the tribe Polistini.

Vernacular name Vernacular is the ordinary, informal, spoken form of language, particularly when perceived as having lower social status or less prestige than standard language, which is more codified, institutionally promoted, literary, or formal. More n ...

s for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in reference to the form of their nests, and umbrella paper wasps. ''Polistes'' is the single largest genus within the family

Vespidae The Vespidae are a large (nearly 5000 species), diverse, cosmopolitan family of wasps, including nearly all the known eusocial wasps (such as '' Polistes fuscatus'', '' Vespa orientalis'', and ''Vespula germanica'') and many solitary wasps. Eac ...

, with over 200 recognized species. Their innate preferences for nest-building sites leads them to commonly build nests on human habitation, where they can be very unwelcome; although generally not aggressive, they can be provoked into defending their nests. All species are predatory, and they may consume large numbers of caterpillars, in which respect they are generally considered beneficial.

Description

As part of subfamily Polistinae, ''Polistes'' wasps are covered in short and inconspicuous hair, have a clypeus with a pointed apex, have a gena that is wide throughout,

tergum A ''tergum'' (Latin for "the back"; : ''terga'', associated adjective tergal) is the dorsal ('upper') portion of an arthropod Arthropods ( ) are invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda. They possess an arthropod exoskeleton, exoskeleton wi ...

1 of the

metasoma The metasoma is the posterior part of the body, or tagma (biology), tagma, of arthropods whose body is composed of three parts, the other two being the prosoma and the mesosoma. In insects, it contains most of the digestive tract, respiratory sy ...

is almost straight to gently arched in profile, the tibia of the mid leg has two spurs, and the legs end in simple tarsal claws. The genus can be distinguished from other Polistinae by a sessile metasoma (the first segment at most slightly longer than wide) and the fourth tarsomeres of the mid and hind legs being symmetrical. ''Polistes'' show

sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the condition where sexes of the same species exhibit different Morphology (biology), morphological characteristics, including characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most dioecy, di ...

, with males having seven externally visible metasomal segments whereas females have six. This trait is shared with other vespid wasps. ''Polistes'' species have single-layered nests which are shaped like an umbrella, with the cells exposed to the air from the bottom, and no layer wrapping around the nest. The nests are suspended from a surface by a

petiole Petiole may refer to: *Petiole (botany), the stalk of a leaf, attaching the blade to the stem *Petiole (insect anatomy) In entomology, petiole is the technical term for the narrow waist of some hymenopteran insects, especially ants, bees, and ...

and are constructed from a paper-like substance made of a mix of saliva and wood fibres chewed off old and soft wood or dead twigs. Many ''Polistes'' species in general often have nests supported by a longer petiole than those of ''

Vespula ''Vespula'' is a small genus of social wasps, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Along with members of their sister genus '' Dolichovespula'', they are collectively known by the common name yellowjackets (or yellow jackets) in North ...

''.

Biochemistry

Carlson et al 1998 finds the

cuticular hydrocarbon Insects (from Latin ') are Hexapoda, hexapod invertebrates of the class (biology), class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (Insect morphology#Head, head, ...

s of ''Polistes'' to be, similarly to many other insects, predominantly many-branched methyl

branched alkane In organic chemistry, an alkane, or paraffin (a historical trivial name that also has other meanings), is an acyclic saturated hydrocarbon. In other words, an alkane consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms arranged in a tree structure in whic ...

s. The reviews of Nelson 1978, Lockey 1988 and Nelson 1993 concur.

Life cycle

The general life cycle of ''Polistes'' can be divided into four phases: #Founding (or pre-emergence) phase #Worker phase #Reproductive phase #Intermediate phase

Founding (or pre-emergence) phase

The founding stage begins in the spring when a solitary female (the "foundress") (or a small group of related females) initiates the construction of a nest. The wasps begin by fashioning a

, a short stalk which will connect the new nest to a substrate (often the eave of a house or outbuilding), and building a single brood cell at the end of it. Further cells are added laterally in a hexagonal pattern, each cell surrounded by six others. Although nests can achieve impressive sizes, they almost always maintain a basic shape: petiolated ( stellocyttarous), single-combed, unprotected, and open ( gymnodomous). Eggs are laid by the foundress directly into the brood cells and are guarded by the foundress and the assisting females (if present). After the first larvae hatch, the foundress feeds them via progressive provisioning, bringing softened caterpillar flesh to the larvae multiple times throughout their development (as opposed to the one-time provisioning seen in some other hymenopteran groups). Each of this first seasonal brood of new paper wasps is exclusively female and destined to a subordinate worker position inside the nest; they do not found their own nests and instead assist their mother in the care and maintenance of future sisters. Some foundress wasps do not build their own nests, but rather attempt to usurp that of another female. These usurpation attempts may or may not be successful, but almost always result in impressive displays of aggression and violence. Females may also adopt a more peaceful alternative reproduction strategy by joining the nest of a close relative (usually a sister) and working as assisting females. In the latter case, such cofounding females are generally, but not exclusively, close relatives.

Worker phase

The worker phase usually begins in the early summer, roughly two months after colony initiation, with the emergence of the first workers. These new females take up most of the colony's work duties, foraging, caring for brood, and maintaining the structure of the nest. Around this time, those females which assisted in nest foundation (if present) are driven from the nest by aggressive behavior on the part of the foundress, and leave either to start their own late-season nests or usurp another's.

Reproductive phase

The reproductive phase of the colony begins when the first female reproductives (the

gyne The gyne (, from Greek γυνή, "woman") is the primary reproductive female caste of social insects (especially ants, wasps, and bees of order Hymenoptera, as well as termites). Gynes are those destined to become queens, whereas female workers ...

s) emerge from their brood cells. These reproductives differ from their worker sisters by having increased levels of fat stores and

cryoprotectant A cryoprotectant is a substance used to protect biological tissue from freezing damage (i.e. that due to ice formation). Arctic and Antarctic insects, fish and amphibians create cryoprotectants ( antifreeze compounds and antifreeze proteins) in th ...

carbohydrate compounds (allowing them to survive the overwintering period). These reproductives contribute genes directly to the next generation, while their worker sisters normally pass along their genes indirectly.

Intermediate phase

Once male reproductives emerge and both males and females disperse from the natal nest for mating flights, the so-called intermediate phase begins. Brood care and foraging behavior decline and worker numbers drop as dying individuals are no longer replaced by new ones. Intracolonial aggression increases and the social cohesion of the nest declines. In temperate ''Polistes'' species, individuals (almost exclusively inseminated females) gather in groups of up to 50 individuals and seek a sheltered location (called a hibernaculum) in which to overwinter.

Behavior

Kin selection

The reproductive behavior of ''Polistes'' wasps provided some of the first evidence for the mathematical biologist

W. D. Hamilton William Donald Hamilton (1 August 1936 – 7 March 2000) was a British evolutionary biologist, recognised as one of the most significant evolutionary theorists of the 20th century. Hamilton became known for his theoretical work expounding a ...

's 1964 theory of

kin selection Kin selection is a process whereby natural selection favours a trait due to its positive effects on the reproductive success of an organism's relatives, even when at a cost to the organism's own survival and reproduction. Kin selection can lead ...

. Hamilton showed that animals such as workers could be expected to provide assistance to relatives such as their queens according to the costs and benefits involved (K) and their degree of genetic relatedness (r), and gave the rule that now carries his name, K > 1/r. Early caution existed among researchers as to whether social insects could really assess their relatedness. Hamilton himself suggested an alternative possibility, namely that kin could become associated simply by "population viscosity" —that offspring tend not to disperse far from their birthplaces— and West-Eberhard (1969) found some evidence for this in ''Polistes''. However, ''Polistes'' species are now known to learn and remember chemical signals (hydrocarbons) picked up from the nest to distinguish nestmates accurately from non-relatives.

Dominance hierarchy system

Morphologically, the foundress and subordinate reproductive members of the colony differ little. However, behavioral differentiation occurs among females both between and within generations. For example, in the species ''

Polistes humilis ''Polistes humilis'', known as the Australian paper wasp, is a species of wasp in the family Vespidae that is found throughout Australia and which has been introduced to northern New Zealand. These paper wasps can be identified by their long thin ...

'' the queen displays a "tail-wagging" behavior to assert her dominance over the worker class. Similarly, '' Polistes canadensis'' also possesses behavioral differentiation between the queen and her nestmates, with the queen often suppressing the aggressive behavior of subordinates through lateral abdominal vibrations and stroking. In contrast, unmated females are not aggressive. In ''

Polistes exclamans ''Polistes exclamans'', the Guinea paper wasp, is a Eusociality, social wasp and is part of the family Vespidae of the order Hymenoptera. It has been found in Ontario, Canada and the eastern United States from Illinois down south to Florida and ...

'' queens have different amounts of glucose, fructose, and trehalose which lead to different cryoprotectant levels. This alters their survivability in different temperatures, increasing their odds of reproduction. Females in '' P. bellicosus'' are also morphologically similar between caste separations. For example, a ''P. bellicosus'' worker could become queen, and egg-layer, if all of the original foundresses die or leave the nest. This is also true for '' Polistes dorsalis'', which also displays dominant behavior. Despite having no distinct morphological caste, roles of ''P. dorsalis'' tend to be fixed in a system with division of labor.

Nestmate recognition

''Polistes'' spp. discriminate colony mates using an acquired (i.e. learned) cue, absorbing hydrocarbons from the natal nest at eclosion. This

cuticular A cuticle (), or cuticula, is any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticle" are non- homologous, differing in their origin, structu ...

hydrocarbon "signature" is derived both from the plant material and the foundress-applied substances from which the nest is made. Studies of ''

Polistes fuscatus ''Polistes fuscatus'', whose common name is the dark or northern paper wasp, is widely found in eastern North America, from southern Canada through the southern United States. It often nests around human development. However, it greatly prefers a ...

'' have researched the molecular basis of the recognition "

pheromone A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavio ...

" used by the wasps, and indicate at least some of the recognizable labels have the same chemical constituents as the adult cuticular hydrocarbons. Similar recognition is found in ''

Polistes metricus ''Polistes metricus'' (metric paper wasp or metricus paper wasp) is a wasp native to North America. In the United States, it ranges throughout the southern Midwest, the South, and as far northeast as New York, but has recently been spotted in s ...

''. Dominant individuals of ''P. dominula'' have differing cuticular profiles from workers, and the frequent observations of the dominant female stroking its gaster across the nest surface, combined with its staying on the nest for longer times than subordinates, suggests the dominant individual may contribute more to the nest odor. '' P. carolina'' females do not preferentially feed their own progeny (as larvae). Further to this recognition of nestmates, ''

Polistes biglumis ''Polistes biglumis'' is a species of social wasp within ''Polistes'', the most common genus of paper wasp. It is distinguished mainly by its tendency to reside in montane climates in meadows or alpine areas. Selection pressure from the wasp's en ...

'' foundresses discriminate between 'alien' eggs and their own via differential oophagy.

Gallery

Polistes sp wasp.jpg, '' Polistes africanus'' wasp on a nest in Tanzania. RedWaspNest.jpg, ''

Polistes annularis ''Polistes annularis''is a species of paper wasp found throughout the eastern half of the United States. This species of red paper wasp is known for its large size and its red-and-black coloration and is variably referred to as a ringed paper was ...

'' (ringed paper wasp) nest in the United States. Polistes brunus (15686149903).jpg, '' Polistes brunus'' in Thailand. Polistes carnifex - Henkerwespe 131400644.jpg, ''

Polistes carnifex ''Polistes carnifex'', commonly known as the executioner wasp or executioner paper wasp, is a neotropical vespid wasp in the cosmopolitan genus '' Polistes''. It is a very large yellow and brown paper wasp with a mandible that contains teeth ...

carnifex'' in Mexico. Polistes cavapyta 113514045.jpg, '' Polistes cavapyta'' in Brazil. Yellow Paper Wasp.jpg, ''

Polistes dominula The European paper wasp (''Polistes dominula'') is one of the most common and well-known species of social wasps in the genus ''Polistes''. Its diet is more diverse than those of most ''Polistes'' species—many genera of insects versus mainly ca ...

'' (European paper wasp), invasive in

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

. Paper wasp drinking water - Flickr - treegrow.jpg, '' Polistes dorsalis neotropicus'' in Arizona. Goeldi's Paper Wasp, Puerto Inca Province, Peru imported from iNaturalist photo 241776678.jpg, '' Polistes goeldii'' on a nest in Puerto Inca Province, Peru. Polistes major colombianus (208336507).jpg, ''

Polistes major ''Polistes major'' is a Neotropical species of paper wasp found from South America north into the southern United States. This species is known as ''avispa de caballo'' (Spanish: "horse wasp") in the Dominican Republic. Subspecies There are five ...

colombianus'' in Colombia. Marimbondo na folhagem (cropped).jpg, '' Polistes ridleyi'', endemic to Fernando Noronha, Brazil. Polistes sagittarius, Siem Reap, Cambodia.jpg, '' Polistes sagittarius'' in Cambodia. Polistes testaceicolor 141198661.jpg, '' Polistes tescaceicolor'' in Peru. Paper wasp (polistes wattii).jpg, '' Polistes wattii'' in

Musandam Peninsula The Musandam Peninsula (), locally known as Ruus Al Jibal ( Capes of the Mountains), is a peninsula that forms the northeastern point of the Arabian Peninsula. Geography The peninsula lies to the south of the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persia ...

Oman Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman’s coastline ...

Species

203 species were described in the genus by 1996, and new species continue to be described. There are nine species in Europe. 229 species and 125 subspecies are as follows: *'' Polistes actaeon'' Haliday, 1836 *'' Polistes adelphus'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes adustus'' Bingham, 1897 *'' Polistes affinis'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *'' Polistes africanus'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 *'' Polistes albicinctus'' de Saussure, 1890 *''

Polistes albocalcaratus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' du Buysson, 1905 *'' Polistes angulinus'' Richards, 1951 *'' Polistes angusticlypeus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *''

'' (Linnaeus, 1763) *'' Polistes apachus'' (de Saussure, 1857) *'' Polistes apicalis'' de Saussure, 1858 *'' Polistes aquilinus'' du Buysson, 1905 *'' Polistes arizonensis'' Snelling, 1954 *'' Polistes arthuri'' Cameron, 1901 *'' Polistes assamensis'' Bingham, 1897 *'' Polistes associus'' Kohl, 1898 *'' Polistes asterope'' Cameron, 1901 **'' Polistes asterope arvidi'' Petersen, 1990 **'' Polistes asterope asterope'' Cameron, 1901 **'' Polistes asterope narupi'' Petersen, 1990 *'' Polistes aterrimus'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes atrimandibularis'' Zimmermann, 1930 *'' Polistes atrox'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes aurifer'' de Saussure, 1853 *''

Polistes austroccidentalis ''Polistes austroccidentalis'' is a kleptoparasitic paper wasp that is found in several regions of high altitude in Europe, and until 2017 was universally mistakenly referred to as ''Polistes semenowi'', which is instead the correct name of the ...

'' Van Achterberg & Neumeyer, 2017 *''

Polistes badius ''Polistes badius'' is a species from the subgenus ''Polistes''. The species was originally described by Carl Eduard Adolph Gerstaecker in 1873 Events January * January 1 ** Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar. ** The California Penal C ...

'' Gerstaecker, 1871 *'' Polistes bahamensis'' Bequaert & Salt, 1931 *'' Polistes balder'' Kirby, 1888 *'' Polistes bambusae'' Richards, 1978 **'' Polistes bambusae bambusae'' Richards, 1978 **'' Polistes bambusae humboldti'' Richards, 1978 *''

Polistes bellicosus ''Polistes bellicosus'' is a eusociality, social paper wasp from the order Hymenoptera typically found within Texas, namely the Houston area.Predation and the Evolution of Sociality in the Paper Wasp Polistes Bellicosus Joan E. Strassmann, David C. ...

'' Cresson, 1872 *'' Polistes bequaertellus'' Snelling, 1983, *'' Polistes bequaerti'' von Schulthess, 1921 *'' Polistes bequaertianus'' Willink, 1954 *'' Polistes bicolor'' Lepeletier, 1836 *''

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *'' Polistes biguttatus'' Haliday, 1836 *''

Polistes billardieri ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Fabricius, 1804 **'' Polistes billardieri biglumoides'' Ducke, 1904 **'' Polistes billardieri billardieri'' Fabricius, 1804 **'' Polistes billardieri ruficornis'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes binotatus'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes bischoffi'' Weyrauch, 1937 *'' Polistes bituberculatus'' du Buysson, 1905 *'' Polistes boharti'' Snelling, 1983 *'' Polistes brevifissus'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes brunus'' Nguyen & Carpenter, 2017 *'' Polistes bucharensis'' Petersen, 1990 *'' Polistes buruensis'' Erichson, 184 *'' Polistes buyssoni'' Brèthes, 1909 *'' Polistes callimorphus'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes canadensis'' (Linnaeus, 1758) **''

Polistes canadensis borientalis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Richards, 1978 **'' Polistes canadensis canadensis'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *'' Polistes candidoi'' von Ihering, 1903 *'' Polistes capnodes'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes capnodes capnodes'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''

Polistes capnodes incomptus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes capnodes quadrifasciatus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''

'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes carnifex boliviensis'' Bequaert, 1936 **'' Polistes carnifex carnifex'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes carnifex carnifex'' Latreille, 1817 *''

Polistes carolina ''Polistes carolina'' is one of two species of red paper wasp found in the eastern United States (the other being ''Polistes rubiginosus'') and is noted for the finer ridges on its propodeum. It is a social wasp in the family Vespidae and subfamil ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1767) *'' Polistes cavapyta'' de Saussure, 1853 *''

Polistes cavapytiformis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Richards, 1978 *''

Polistes celebensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Selis, 2018 *'' Polistes chinensis'' (Fabricius, 1793) **''

Polistes chinensis antennalis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Pérez, 1905 **'' Polistes chinensis chinensis'' (Fabricius, 1793) *''

Polistes cinerascens ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refer ...

'' de Saussure, 1854 *'' Polistes claripennis'' Ducke, 1904 *'' Polistes clavicornis'' van der Vecht, 1972 *'' Polistes comanchus'' de Saussure, 1857 **'' Polistes comanchus comanchus'' de Saussure, 1857 **'' Polistes comanchus navajoe'' Cresson, 1868 *'' Polistes communalis'' Nguyen, Vu, & Carpenter, 2017 *'' Polistes consobrinus'' de Saussure, 1858 *''

Polistes contrarius ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Cheesman, 1951 *'' Polistes crinitus'' (Felton, 1765) **'' Polistes crinitus americanus'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes crinitus crinitus'' (Felton, 1765) **'' Polistes crinitus multicolor'' (Olivier, 1792) *''

Polistes cubensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Lepeletier, 1836 *'' Polistes davillae'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes dawnae'' Dover & Rao, 1922 *'' Polistes deceptor'' Schulz, 1905 *'' Polistes defectivus'' Gerstaecker, 1871 *''

Polistes delhiensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *'' Polistes diabolicus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''

Polistes diakonovi ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Kostylev, 1940 *'' Polistes dominicus'' (Vallot, 1802) *''

'' (Christ, 1791) *'' Polistes dorsalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes dorsalis californicus'' Bohart, 1949 **'' Polistes dorsalis clarionensis'' Bohart, 1949 **'' Polistes dorsalis dorsalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''

Polistes dorsalis maritimus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Bequaert, 1940 **''

Polistes dorsalis neotropicus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Bequaert, 1940 *'' Polistes ebsohinus'' Sonan, 1943 *'' Polistes eburneus'' Bequaert, 1943 *'' Polistes elegans'' Smith, 1859 *'' Polistes ellenbergi'' du Buysson, 1908 *'' Polistes ephippium'' Cameron, 1900 *'' Polistes erythrinus'' Holmgren, 1868 *''

Polistes erythrocephalus ''Polistes erythrocephalus'' is a species of paper wasp in the subfamily Polistinae of family Vespidae found in Central and South America. ''P. erythrocephalus'' is a eusocial wasp, meaning that it possesses both reproductive and non-reproductive ...

'' Latreille, 1813 *'' Polistes esperanzae'' Selis, 2018 *''

'' Viereck, 1906 *'' Polistes extraneus'' Kirby, 1883 *'' Polistes facilis'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes fastidiosus'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes ferreri'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes flavitarsis'' Selis, 2018 *'' Polistes flavobilineatus'' (Cameron, 1902) *''

Polistes flavus ''Polistes flavus'', also known as the yellow paper wasp, is a species of paper wasp in the family Vespidae The Vespidae are a large (nearly 5000 species), diverse, cosmopolitan family of wasps, including nearly all the known eusocial wasps ( ...

'' Cresson, 1868 *''

Polistes foederatus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Kohl, 1898 *'' Polistes fordi'' van der Vecht, 1972 *'' Polistes formosanus'' Sonan, 1927 *'' Polistes franciscanus'' Richards, 1978 *''

'' (Fabricius, 1793) *''

Polistes gallicus ''Polistes gallicus'' is a species of paper wasp found in various parts of Europe, excluding England, Denmark, and Scandinavia, from warmer climates to cooler regions north of the Alps. Nests of these social insects are created in these various c ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1767) *'' Polistes geminatus'' Fox, 1898 **'' Polistes geminatus geminatus'' Fox, 1898 **'' Polistes geminatus guyanensis'' Cameron, 1912 *'' Polistes gigas'' (Kirby, 1826) *'' Polistes goeldii'' Ducke, 1904 *'' Polistes haugi'' du Buysson, 1906 *''

Polistes hebridensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **'' Polistes hebridensis erromangensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **'' Polistes hebridensis hebridensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **'' Polistes hebridensis malekulensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **'' Polistes hebridensis vilensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 *'' Polistes helveticus'' Neumeyer, 2014 *'' Polistes hirsuticornis'' Buck, 2012 *'' Polistes horrendus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *'' Polistes huacapistana'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes huisunensis'' Kuo, 1987 *'' Polistes humeralis'' Polašek, 2023 *''

'' (Fabricius, 1781) **'' Polistes humilis centrocontinentalis'' Giordani Soika, 1975 **'' Polistes humilis humilis'' (Fabricius, 1781) **'' Polistes humilis synoecus'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes incertus'' Cresson, 1865 *'' Polistes indicus'' Stolfa, 1934 *'' Polistes infuscatus'' Lepeletier, 1836 **'' Polistes infuscatus anduzei'' Bequaert, 1943 **'' Polistes infuscatus ecuadorius'' Richards, 1978 **'' Polistes infuscatus infuscatus'' Lepeletier, 1836 **'' Polistes infuscatus mariae'' Richards, 1978 **'' Polistes infuscatus metensis'' Richards, 1978 *''

Polistes instabilis ''Polistes instabilis'', or Unstable paper wasp is a type of paper wasp, is a neotropical, social wasp, eusocial wasp (family (biology), family Vespidae) that can be found in tropical and subtropical areas such as Central America and South Americ ...

'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes intermedius'' Kojima, 1988 *'' Polistes iranus'' Guiglia, 1976 *''

Polistes japonicus ''Polistes japonicus'' is a eusocial paper wasp found in Japan. It was first described by Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1858. It is closely related to ''Polistes formosanus''. This species lives in small colonies with few workers and a f ...

'' de Saussure, 1858 *'' Polistes jokahamae'' Radoszkowski, 1887 *'' Polistes kaibabensis'' Hayward, 1932 *'' Polistes khasianus'' Cameron, 1900 *'' Polistes laevigatissimus'' Giordani Soika, 1975 *'' Polistes lanio'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes lanio lanio'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes lanio satanulus'' Bequaert, 1940 **'' Polistes lanio weberi'' Bequaert, 1940 *'' Polistes lateritius'' Smith, 1857 *'' Polistes latinis'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *'' Polistes legnotus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *'' Polistes lepcha'' Cameron, 1900 *'' Polistes lineonotus'' Bohart, 1949 *'' Polistes loveridgei'' Bequaert, 1938 *'' Polistes lycus'' Cameron, 1901 *'' Polistes macrocephalus'' Bequaert, 1918 *''

Polistes madecassus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes madiburensis'' von Schulthess, 1921 *''

'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 **''

Polistes major bonaccensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Bequaert, 1937 **'' Polistes major castaneicolor'' Bequaert, 1936 **'' Polistes major colombianus'' Bequaert, 1940 **''

Polistes major major ''Polistes major major'' is a Neotropical realm, Neotropical Eusociality, eusocial paper wasp subspecies most commonly found on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, as well as in Central America, South Florida in the United States, and Puerto Rico ...

'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 **'' Polistes major weyrauchi'' Bequaert, 1940 *'' Polistes mandarinus'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes maranonensis'' Willink, 1964 *'' Polistes marginalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes marginalis baidoensis'' Giordani Soika, 1944 **'' Polistes marginalis lindensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **'' Polistes marginalis marginalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes marginalis meruensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 *'' Polistes maroccanus'' Schmid-Egger, 2017 *'' Polistes meadeanus'' von Schulthess, 1913 *'' Polistes melanopterus'' Cameron, 1911 *'' Polistes melanosoma'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes melanotus'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes mertoni'' du Buysson, 1913 *''

'' Say, 1831 *'' Polistes mexicanus'' Bequaert, 1940 *''

Polistes minor ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 *'' Polistes mongolicus'' Buysson, 1911 *'' Polistes moraballi'' Richards, 1951 *''

Polistes myersi ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Bequaert, 1934 **'' Polistes myersi curassavicus'' Richards, 1978 **'' Polistes myersi myersi'' Bequaert, 1934 *'' Polistes mysteriosus'' Bequaert, 1938 *''

Polistes niger ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Brèthes, 1903 *'' Polistes nigrifrons'' Smith, 1859 **'' Polistes nigrifrons nigrifrons'' Smith, 1859 **'' Polistes nigrifrons obdurus'' Cheesman, 1951 **'' Polistes nigrifrons stotherti'' Meade-Waldo, 1916 *'' Polistes nigritarsis'' Cameron, 1900 *'' Polistes nigrosericans'' Bequaert, 1940 *''

Polistes nimpha ''Polistes nimpha'' is a eusocial paper wasp found all over Europe, with particular sightings in Turkey, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia. It is also found in northern Africa, Pakistan, Iran, India (especially in the northern states of Jammu and Kash ...

'' (Christ, 1791) *''

Polistes ninabamba ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes nipponensis'' Pérez, 1905 *'' Polistes notatipes'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes obscurus'' de Saussure, 1863 *'' Polistes occipitalis'' Ducke, 1904 *''

Polistes occultus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Kojima, 1988 *''

Polistes oculatus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Smith, 1857 *'' Polistes olivaceus'' (DeGeer, 1773) *'' Polistes opacus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *'' Polistes ornatus'' Lepeletier, 1836 *''

Polistes pacificus ''Polistes pacificus'' is a Neotropical species of social paper wasp belonging to the subfamily Polistinae and the family Vespidae. ''P. pacificus'' can be found distributed throughout most of Central and South America and parts of southern Nort ...

'' Fabricius, 1804 *'' Polistes palmarum'' Bequaert, 1936 *'' Polistes paraguayensis'' Bertoni, 1921 *'' Polistes parametricus'' Buck, 2012 *'' Polistes penai'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes penthicus'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes penthicus ater'' Petersen, 1990 **'' Polistes penthicus malaitensis'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes penthicus penthicus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *'' Polistes perflavus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *'' Polistes peruvianus'' Bequaert, 1934 *'' Polistes philippinensis'' de Saussure, 1853 *''

Polistes poeyi ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Lepeletier, 1836 **'' Polistes poeyi haitiensis'' Bequaert and Salt, 1931 **'' Polistes poeyi poeyi'' Lepeletier, 1836 *'' Polistes praenotatus'' Kohl, 1908 *'' Polistes pseudoculatus'' Snelling, 1955 *'' Polistes quadricingulatus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *'' Polistes ridleyi'' Kirby, 1890 *'' Polistes riekii'' Richards, 1978 *'' Polistes riparius'' Yamane & Yamane, 1987 *'' Polistes rossi'' Bohart, 1949 *'' Polistes rothneyi'' Cameron, 1900 **'' Polistes rothneyi carletoni'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi engeli'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi grahami'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi gressitti'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi hainanensis'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi helvenacus'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''

Polistes rothneyi ingrami ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi iwatai'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi koreanus'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi krombeini'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi quatei'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi robinsoni'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi rothneyi'' Cameron, 1900 **'' Polistes rothneyi sikkimensis'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi tibetanus'' van der Vecht, 1968 **'' Polistes rothneyi vechti'' Das and Gupta, 1984 **'' Polistes rothneyi rothneyi'' Matsumura, 1911 *'' Polistes rubellus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *'' Polistes rubiginosus'' Lepeletier, 1836 *'' Polistes rufidens'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes rufiventris'' Ducke, 1904 *'' Polistes rufodorsalis'' Yamane & Kusigemati, 1985 *'' Polistes sagittarius'' de Saussure, 1853 *''

Polistes santoshae ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *'' Polistes satan'' Bequaert, 1940 *'' Polistes saussurei'' Dalla Torre, 1894 *'' Polistes schach'' (Fabricius, 1781) *''

Polistes semenowi ''Polistes semenowi'' is a species of paper wasp in the genus ''Polistes ''that is found in southeastern and southern central Europe, as well as central Asia, and was until 2017 erroneously known by the name ''Polistes sulcifer'', while a differe ...

'' Morawitz, 1889 *'' Polistes semiflavus'' Holmgren, 1868 *'' Polistes sgarambus'' Giordani Soika, 1975 *'' Polistes shirakii'' Sonan, 1943 *'' Polistes sikorae'' de Saussure, 1900 *'' Polistes similis'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *'' Polistes simillimus'' Zikán, 1951 *'' Polistes simulatus'' Smith, 1860 **'' Polistes simulatus halmaheirensis'' Petersen, 1990 **'' Polistes simulatus morotaiensis'' Petersen, 1990 **'' Polistes simulatus obiensis'' Petersen, 1990 **'' Polistes simulatus simulatus'' Smith, 1860 *'' Polistes smithii'' de Saussure, 1853 **''

Polistes smithii neavei ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' von Schulthess, 1921 **'' Polistes smithii smithii'' de Saussure, 1853 *'' Polistes snelleni'' de Saussure, 1862 *''

Polistes stabilinus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' Richards, 1978 *''

Polistes stenopus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in referen ...

'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes stenopus brandti'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes stenopus ganonganus'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes stenopus manni'' van der Vecht, 1972 **'' Polistes stenopus stenopus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *'' Polistes stigma'' (Fabricius, 1793) ** '' Polistes stigma alagari'' Petersen, 1987 ** '' Polistes stigma bernardii'' Le Guillou, 1841 ** '' Polistes stigma dubius'' de Saussure, 1867 ** '' Polistes stigma galatheae'' Petersen, 1987 ** '' Polistes stigma goestai'' Petersen, 1987 ** '' Polistes stigma jani'' Petersen, 1987 ** '' Polistes stigma maculipennis'' de Saussure, 1853 ** '' Polistes stigma madsi'' Petersen, 1987 ** '' Polistes stigma manillensis'' de Saussure, 1853 ** '' Polistes stigma nebulosus'' Yamane & Kusigemati, 1985 ** '' Polistes stigma novarae'' de Saussure, 1867 ** '' Polistes stigma papuanus'' Schulz, 1905 ** '' Polistes stigma pouli'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''

Polistes stigma sauiensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of Polistinae, paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp ...

'' Petersen, 1987 ** '' Polistes stigma stigma'' (Fabricius, 1793) ** '' Polistes stigma svendi'' Petersen, 1987 ** '' Polistes stigma tamulus'' (Fabricius, 1798) ** '' Polistes stigma townsvillensis'' Giordani Soika, 1975 ** '' Polistes stigma tualensis'' Petersen, 1987 *'' Polistes strigosus'' Bequaert, 1940 **'' Polistes strigosus atratus'' Das and Gupta, 1989 **'' Polistes strigosus mimus'' Bequaert, 1940 **'' Polistes strigosus strigosus'' Bequaert, 1940 *''

Polistes subsericeus ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of Polistinae, paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp ...

'' de Saussure, 1854 *'' Polistes takasagonus'' Sonan, 1943 *'' Polistes tenebricosus'' Lepeletier, 1836 *'' Polistes tenebris'' Nguyen & Lee 2017 *'' Polistes tenellus'' du Buysson, 1905 **'' Polistes tenellus lahejensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **'' Polistes tenellus minutissimus'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **'' Polistes tenellus tenellus'' du Buysson, 1905 *'' Polistes tenuipunctatus'' Selis, 2018 *'' Polistes tenuispunctia'' Kim, 2001 *'' Polistes tepidus'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''

Polistes tepidus batjanensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Cameron, 1911 **'' Polistes tepidus malayanus'' Cameron, 1906 **'' Polistes tepidus manusensis'' Petersen, 1990 **'' Polistes tepidus picteti'' de Saussure, 1853 **'' Polistes tepidus speciosus'' du Buysson, 1913 **'' Polistes tepidus tepidus'' (Fabricius, 1775) **'' Polistes tepidus theodori'' Petersen, 1990 *'' Polistes testaceicolor'' Bequaert, 1937 *'' Polistes thoracicus'' Fox, 1898 *'' Polistes torresae'' Silveira, 1994 *'' Polistes tristis'' Meade-Waldo, 1911 *'' Polistes tullgreni'' Schulz, 1906 *'' Polistes utakwae'' Meade-Waldo, 1916 *'' Polistes variabilis'' (Fabricius, 1781) *'' Polistes veracrucis'' Richards, 1978 *''

Polistes versicolor ''Polistes versicolor'', also known as the variegated paper wasp or yellow paper wasp, is a subtropical social wasp within ''Polistes'', the most common genus of paper wasp. It is the most widely distributed of South American wasp species and is ...

'' (Olivier, 1792) **'' Polistes versicolor flavoguttatus'' Bequaert, 1934 **''

Polistes versicolor kaieteurensis ''Polistes'' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in refere ...

'' Bequaert, 1934 **'' Polistes versicolor versicolor'' (Olivier, 1792) *'' Polistes wattii'' Cameron, 1900 *'' Polistes watutus'' Kojima, 1988 *''

Polistes weyrauchorum ''Polistes weyrauchorum'' is a species of paper wasp in the family Vespidae. It is found along narrow strip along the western coast of South America, from Ecuador to northern Chile. ''Polites weyrauchorum'' is locally known as ''pulato'' o ''púl ...

'' Willink, 1964 *'' Polistes williamsi'' Petersen, 1990 *'' Polistes xanthogaster'' Bequaert, 1940 **'' Polistes xanthogaster willei'' Bequaert, 1940 **'' Polistes xanthogaster xanthogaster'' Bequaert, 1940 *'' Polistes xantholeucus'' van der Vecht, 1984

Pest status

Along with the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

and

common wasp ''Vespula vulgaris'', known as the common wasp, is a species found in regions that include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, India, China, New Zealand and Australia. It is sometimes known in English as the European wasp, but the same name i ...

s, the Asian and Australian paper wasps ('' P. chinensis'' and '' P. humilis'') are considered pests in

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

. Arriving in 1979, the Asian paper wasp has established itself in both the North Island and the northern parts of the South Island. Because it competes with native species (such as the

kaka Kaka may refer to: People Nickname or given name Sports * Kaká (born 1982), Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, Brazilian football attacking midfielder * Kaká (futsal player) (born 1987), Carlos Augusto dos Santos da Silva, Italian futsal pivot * ...

) for insects, nectar, and honeydew, it is a hindrance to conservation efforts. In

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

, the introduced European species ''

'' has rapidly colonized a significant area, and is considered an invasive pest. It is a concern for cherry and grape growers in

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, as it injures the fruit by biting off the skin. It also spreads

yeast Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom (biology), kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are est ...

and fungi that harm fruit and can be a nuisance to workers and pickers at harvest. There is evidence it has also displaced native paper wasp species by outcompeting them.

Parasites

Various other insects are

parasite Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives (at least some of the time) on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted str ...

s or

parasitoid In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...

s of ''Polistes'', including flies (e.g.,

Sarcophagidae Sarcophagidae () are a family (biology), family of fly, flies commonly known as flesh flies. They differ from most flies in that they are Ovoviviparity, ovoviviparous, opportunistically depositing hatched or hatching maggots instead of eggs on c ...

mantispids Mantispidae (), commonly known as mantidflies, mantispids, mantid lacewings, mantisflies or mantis-flies, is a family of small to moderate-sized insects in the order Neuroptera. There are many genera with around 400 species worldwide, especially ...

, and wasps in the families

Torymidae Torymidae is a family of wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea. Most species in this family are small with attractive metallic coloration, and females generally have long ovipositors. Many are parasitoids on gall-forming insects, and some are phy ...

Mutillidae Velvet ants (Mutillidae) are a family of more than 7,000 species of wasps whose wingless females resemble large, hairy ants. Their common name velvet ant refers to their resemblance to an ant, and their dense pile of hair, which most often is br ...

(rarely),

Braconidae The Braconidae are a family of parasitoid wasps. After the closely related Ichneumonidae, braconids make up the second-largest family in the order Hymenoptera, with about 17,000 recognized species and many thousands more undescribed. One analysis ...

, and

Ichneumonidae The Ichneumonidae, also known as ichneumon wasps, ichneumonid wasps, ichneumonids, or Darwin wasps, are a family of parasitoid wasps of the insect order Hymenoptera. They are one of the most diverse groups within the Hymenoptera with roughly 25 ...

(e.g. '' Latibulus argiolus''). Some more specialized groups are more intimately associated with ''Polistes''; this includes

strepsiptera The Strepsiptera () are an order of insects with eleven extant families that include about 600 described species. They are endoparasites of other insects, such as bees, wasps, leafhoppers, Zygentoma, silverfish, and cockroaches. Females of most s ...

ns in the family

Stylopidae Stylopidae is a family in the order Strepsiptera. There are about 15 genera and more than 330 described species in Stylopidae. All Strepsiptera, including all members of Stylopidae are parasitic insects. Host insects of this family that are affl ...

(genus '' Xenos''), wasps of the genus ''

Elasmus The genus ''Elasmus'' is the only member of the hymenopteran subfamily Elasminae (formerly classified as a separate family, Elasmidae), and contains over 200 species worldwide. They are mostly parasitoids or hyperparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae ...

'' (formerly placed in their own family, "Elasmidae"), and wasps in the family

Trigonalidae Trigonalidae is a family of parasitic wasps in the suborder Apocrita. They are the only living members of the superfamily Trigonaloidea. Trigonalidae are divided into 2 subfamilies; Orthogonalinae and Trigonalinae. These wasps are extremely ra ...

. The nests of many species of this wasp genus are invaded by the

caterpillars of the moth '' Chalcoela iphitalis'' which feed on the wasp larvae and

pupa A pupa (; : pupae) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in their life cycle, the stages th ...

s at night, spinning their cocoons in empty cells. Within the subgenus ''Polistes'' are four known social obligate parasites: ''P. atrimandibularis'', ''P. austroccidentalis'', ''P. maroccanus'', and ''P. semenowi'', which parasitize other ''Polistes'' wasps. Known host species of these parasites are ''P. dominulus'', ''P. gallicus'', ''P. nimphus'', ''P. associus'', and ''P. biglumis''. Although these parasites differ in their host invasion strategies, their end goal is to successfully infiltrate the host nest and reproduce at the host's expense.

References

External links

Paper wasp ''Polistes dominula'' reference photographs, descriptions, taxonomy
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20091027122434/http://geocities.com/quelea/waspinfo.html ''Polistes dominula'' facial markings indicating dominance {{Taxonbar, from=Q1955518 Insects used as insect pest control agents Hymenoptera genera Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille