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Photo#229615
Paper wasp - Polistes aurifer, male - Polistes aurifer - male

Paper wasp - Polistes aurifer, male - Polistes aurifer - Male
Elkton, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
September 27, 2008
Size: approx 3/4 inch
Still finding new bugs in the yard, almost on a daily basis. Today I found two I'd never seen before. A strange looking fly (for a separate submission) and this yellowjacket who was searching around some blackberry runners for something - had to wait several minutes before it stopped long enough for a photo. Never saw one like it before, but for the past few days I've seen several daily. I remember reading somewhere that males are somewhat large and they have a curve at the tip of the antenna, so I'm assuming this might be a male. Any help in ID would be greatly appreciated - as would knowing what it was searching for.

Looks like
a paper wasp. Reminds me of Polistes aurifer. One of our experts will know it for certain.

 
Polistes aurifer, male (OR)
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