Thanks Eric, I don't understand what key out the specimen means.
Naomi

Entomologists use special documents called "keys" that consist of a series of couplets. One half of each couplet takes you to another couplet, and so on, until you eventually arrive at a genus, species, or other desired level of classification. The keys are very technical, each couplet usually describing some portion of the insect's anatomy that can only be seen under a high-powered microscope. For example, one couplet might have two options: 1a. body hairs branched. 1b. body hairs simple. You would decide which kind of hairs your specimen had, and then follow to the next couplet. I hope this makes sense. Anyway, there is only one, unpublished, key to Polistes that I am aware of. I have a copy somewhere and when I find some time (and get a microscope), I will go over my specimens and identify them, then go over Bugguide images and see if we can't get species IDs on some of them. So, don't frass this photo:-) Thanks.

Thanks Eric, I do understand your explanation and thank you for taking the time to explain. I look forward (hopefully) to a species ID when time permits.
Naomi