Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
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 metricus
Photo#107549
Polistes metricus - female
Copyright © 2006 Cotinis

Polistes metricus - Female
Parkwood, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
September 16, 2006
Size: 22 mm
Close-up of female's head--a good view of those compound eyes, ocelli, and antennal insertions. The curved tab partly covering the eye is fascinating--it looks as if it guards the eyes from being rubbed by the antennae, or perhaps guards the eyes from struggling prey. The whole head reminds me of a medieval helmet.

Images of this individual: tag all
Polistes metricus - female Polistes metricus - female Polistes metricus - female Polistes metricus - female
Contributed by Cotinis on 5 May, 2007 - 1:07pm
Last updated 11 May, 2007 - 4:09am

Every hair in place
Nice series, Patrick. I particularly like this shot, but see the helmet more as ultra-modern. Interesting, the difference.
… Ron Hemberger, 5 May, 2007 - 3:59pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.