Species Polistes carolina - Red Wasp

Perhaps somewhat different from other Polistes? Brimley, (1) says that P. canadensis annularis, which perhaps! included the similar P. carolina at that time, overwintered as males and females. Salsbury shows P. carolina emerging from a hollow log, perhaps in spring. P. Coin has observed what is apparently a colony of P. carolina emerging from a hollow tree in March in the Sandhills of North Carolina. This bears further investigation.

This species may prefer to nest in very sheltered locations, such as hollow trees--this should be investigated.

Very similar Polistes perplexus--see notes on that guide page.

Distinguishing between the two requires a close look at the "cheek" (character works only on females). P. carolina is shown below; for a side-by-side comparison of the two species see here (images from Polistes key in the Identification Atlas of the Vespidae of the Northeastern Nearctic Region (2)).

Drees, p. 284, fig. 343 (3)

Salsbury, p. 279 (4)

Brimley, p. 441, listed under P. canadensis annularis? (1)