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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
Photo#340203
Wasp with pale yellow, black and red abdomen - Polistes - female
Copyright © 2009 Jerry Friedman

Wasp with pale yellow, black and red abdomen - Polistes - Female
Española, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA
October 3, 2009
Size: 1.3 cm?
Polistes? Maybe the same species as my earlier photo, which was aurifer or dorsalis or something? And if this is Polistes, it's a female, right?

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Wasp with pale yellow, black and red abdomen - Polistes - female Wasp with pale yellow, black and red abdomen - Polistes - female Wasp with pale yellow, black and red abdomen - Polistes - female
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Contributed by Jerry Friedman on 3 October, 2009 - 11:56pm
Last updated 5 October, 2009 - 3:01pm

Moved
Moved from Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies.
… Jerry Friedman, 5 October, 2009 - 1:09pm login or register to post comments

Yes.
Yes, this is a paper wasp female. Almost certainly P. aurifer, which is quite variable over its extensive western range.
… Eric R. Eaton, 5 October, 2009 - 12:23pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks to both.
I hate to be a nudnik, but does "almost certainly" mean I should move it to P. aurifer?
… Jerry Friedman, 5 October, 2009 - 1:12pm login or register to post comments

 
Oh, throw caution to the wind!
Move it; that's what I'd do. (Cautionary note: A couple months ago, I'd have left it as is. Your call, really.)
… Ron Hemberger, 5 October, 2009 - 3:07pm login or register to post comments

Polistes seems right.
Beyond that, I'm totally uncertain, but think the two species you've mentioned are excellent candidates.
… Ron Hemberger, 5 October, 2009 - 10:52am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Jerry Friedman, 4 October, 2009 - 11:58pm login or register to post comments

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