Species Polistes annularis

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · Internet References · Works Cited

Paper Wasp - Polistes annularis - female

Wasp on copper wire - Polistes annularis - female

Polistes Annularis Nest - Polistes annularis

Polistes fuscatus? - Polistes annularis - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon (Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps)

Superfamily Vespoidea

Family Vespidae (Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps)

Subfamily Polistinae (Paper Wasps)

Genus Polistes

Species annularis (Polistes annularis)

Explanation of Names

Latin for "ringed"

Identification

Just like the females, males of this species have a red face, which makes them easy to confuse with females, however, it does distinguish them from all other species in this genus.

It has a slender first metasomal segment, it shares this feature with P. bahamensis. But P. annularis lacks the yellow spot on the mesopleuron, (almost always) lacks yellow apical band of tergum and has less developed yellow markings on the mesosoma.

Internet References

Species page in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region. (1)

Works Cited

1.	Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the Northeastern Nearctic Region By Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K. B. Cheung

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 5 April, 2006 - 5:06pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Matthias Buck, Chuck Entz, Ted Kropiewnicki
Last updated 2 February, 2009 - 5:13pm

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