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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Vespidae » Paper Wasps (Polistinae) » Umbrella Paper Wasps (Polistes) » Subgenus Aphanilopterus (Polistes Subgenus Aphanilopterus) » Guinea Paper Wasp (Polistes exclamans)
Photo#222385
Don't mess with us! - Polistes exclamans
Copyright © 2008 Vespula Vulgaris

Don't mess with us! - Polistes exclamans
Pennsylvania, USA
September 6, 2008
I blew on the nest a few times to get them into a defensive posture

Images of this individual: tag all
Another P. exclamans nest - Polistes exclamans Another P. exclamans nest - Polistes exclamans Returning with prey - Polistes exclamans - female Another P. exclamans nest - Polistes exclamans Don't mess with us! - Polistes exclamans Don't mess with us! - Polistes exclamans
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Contributed by Vespula Vulgaris on 6 September, 2008 - 3:29pm
Last updated 12 July, 2010 - 5:54pm

A question...
Is it true that ALL the female individuals of Polistes sp. are capable of reproducing and do not have a "queen caste"?? So if the "foundress" or original mother wasp dies for whatever reason, do the other females fight for the dominating position? I always wondered about this...
… Devon Henderson, 27 March, 2011 - 10:53am login or register to post comments

 
Yes
As the foundress becomes older and unable to suppress the ovary development in her daughters, some of them actually do lay eggs. So not all males in a colony will be produced by the foundress

When the foundress is removed, one or two of the largest females will take her position and lay eggs
… Vespula Vulgaris, 27 March, 2011 - 1:16pm login or register to post comments

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