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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Ants, Stinging Wasps, and Hornets (Vespoidea) » Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps (Vespidae) » Paper Wasps (Polistinae) » Polistes » Polistes dorsalis
Photo#104384
Which polistes, pleasetes? - Polistes dorsalis
Copyright © 2007 Thomas of Baltimore City

Which polistes, pleasetes? - Polistes dorsalis
Herring Run Park, Baltimore City County, Maryland, USA
April 20, 2007
Fuscatus or dorsalis?
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Contributed by Thomas of Baltimore City on 20 April, 2007 - 10:56pm
Last updated 4 May, 2007 - 2:18pm

Moved
Moved from Polistes.
… Matthias Buck, 4 May, 2007 - 2:18pm login or register to post comments

Good question...
I'd rather say a fuscatus dressed up as a dorsalis, because this species has a strong tendency to mimic other species' color pattern, especially P. etricus. Furthermore, I'm doubtful P. dorsalis goes as far Norh as MD. But should the answer be yes, then it would be very difficult to be conclusive from this unique shot (where, e.g the face is not visible).
Hopefully Mr Buck will know...
… Richard Vernier, 21 April, 2007 - 1:58am login or register to post comments

 
Does
it help to know that this specimen seemed to me "smaller" than others I've observed/photographed?
… Thomas of Baltimore City, 21 April, 2007 - 2:06am login or register to post comments

 
Compare
relative size of each to the Veronica persica blooms in each shot.

… Thomas of Baltimore City, 21 April, 2007 - 1:54pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes, it does...
and tends to prove this female is indeed a Polistes dorsalis. Nontheless, awaitng confirmation from an expert is safer,
… Richard Vernier, 21 April, 2007 - 12:49pm login or register to post comments

 
Polistes dorsalis, female (MD)
This female has complete dark basal rings on the hind femur (unlike the P. fuscatus shown below for comparison), which is typical for dorsalis (towards the west, e.g. in MO and TX, this character is not reliable). Dark rings also occur frequently in P. fuscatus, but only in dark specimens. This specimens is very reddish. The size is diagnostic as well. P. dorsalis does occur in MD indeed, there are even records from further north.
… Matthias Buck, 4 May, 2007 - 2:17pm login or register to post comments

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