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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 Fuscopolistes (Polistes Subgenus Fuscopolistes) » Hunter's Little Paper Wasp (Polistes dorsalis) » Polistes dorsalis dorsalis
Photo#368077
What wasps, please. - Polistes dorsalis
Copyright © 2010 Cathy Wilson

What wasps, please. - Polistes dorsalis
Sanibel Island, Lee County, Florida, USA
January 28, 2010
It was late afternoon and these insects were not moving. I used a flash and nobody stirred. What are they and why no activity? Thanks.

PS. Hmmm. Just realized I posted a flower-striding wasp last week that was ID'd as a male paper. I'll bet this is the same species, but something seems different.
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Contributed by Cathy Wilson on 29 January, 2010 - 7:33pm
Last updated 21 January, 2013 - 3:55pm

Moved
Moved from Polistes.
… Matthias Buck, 21 January, 2013 - 3:55pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Charley Eiseman, 6 February, 2010 - 9:26am login or register to post comments

I agree with vulgaris!
Check this out: http://bugguide.net/node/view/106552
… Breanna Lyle, 29 January, 2010 - 7:56pm login or register to post comments

Polistes
They are paper wasps, Genus Polistes. Could be dorsalis I suppose

What was the temperature when you observed them? That could be why they did not stir
… Vespula Vulgaris, 29 January, 2010 - 7:35pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks Vespula . . it was almost 70 '
Very strange, eh? But it was late in the day - just before sunset.
… Cathy Wilson, 29 January, 2010 - 7:38pm login or register to post comments

 
Good old Florida!
It is not too strange. I cannot tell if there is any brood in the nest; I don't see any but the individual toward the top of the photo looks newborn so that would suggest otherwise. And they were most likely well aware of your presence, but just sleeping or frozen in their positions waiting for you to make a move
… Vespula Vulgaris, 29 January, 2010 - 7:48pm login or register to post comments

 
V V - They were moving this morning . . .
How aggressive are they? I admit it was tougher taking a picture with them moving around.
… Cathy Wilson, 30 January, 2010 - 2:19pm login or register to post comments

 
They can be a bit defensive
As long as you don't get too close and don't bump into the plant that the nest is attached to, there is nothing to worry about.

It is interesting how some parts of FL have Polistes colonies year round
… Vespula Vulgaris, 30 January, 2010 - 2:27pm login or register to post comments

 
Well that's interesting because . . .
I photographed a caterpillar which I'm posting later that WAS on the same plant and I instinctively was very careful about creating turbulence.
… Cathy Wilson, 30 January, 2010 - 2:39pm login or register to post comments

 
Tell you what . .
I'll check on them in the morning and see what they're up to!
… Cathy Wilson, 29 January, 2010 - 7:57pm login or register to post comments

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