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Photo#8462
Paper Wasp Mischocyttarus mexicanus cubicola - Mischocyttarus mexicanus

Paper Wasp Mischocyttarus mexicanus cubicola - Mischocyttarus mexicanus
Indian Rocks, Pinellas County, Florida, USA
November 29, 2002
I find many of these paper wasp nests attached to palmeto fronds here in Florida. Usually I observe 2 or 3 wasps (which are very tollerant) that seem to guard the nest and others that come and go.

Moved

Whoah!
Oh, my, this is NOT a Polistes! The stalked abdomen suggest this is a species of Mischocyttarus, but I was not aware of any eastern U.S. species. I'll have to do a litte more digging....Must be M. mexicanus cubicola, though I can't find another image. Great image here:-)

 
I think you must be right
I think you must be right. I couldn't find any other images either... but the descriptions I've read seem to fit the environment and behevior which I've observed.

Here's another photo of the head:
http://www.flaphoto.com/flagalleries/albums/userpics/wasp1.jpg


According to the article referenced below, M. mexicanus and M. flavitarsis are the two species of the genus that occur in the US. The later in the western half and the former in the Southeast.
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/fulltext?c=entarticle&idno=SN00154040_0067_004_0516&view=toc&subview=fullcitation

If you run across a photo I'd love to know.

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