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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Yellowjackets, Paper Wasps, and Hornets; Potter, Mason and Pollen Wasps (Vespidae) » Paper Wasps (Polistinae) » Polistes » Red Wasp (Polistes carolina)
Photo#98965
Polistes carolina
Copyright © 2007 J.D. Roberts

Polistes carolina
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, USA
March 20, 2007
I watched this one gathering nesting material and going back to build the nest under the building eave. Along with this species, there were both P.metricus and P.fuscatus collecting wood fibers in the same area as well.
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Contributed by J.D. Roberts on 21 March, 2007 - 9:10pm

P. perplexus?
My understanding is that P. carolina and P. perplexus are basically indistinguishable from images alone, so forgive me for wondering how you made the ID. Great shot, btw:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 22 March, 2007 - 1:39pm login or register to post comments

 
Observation
I went with carolina based on the nesting habits. It seems that carolina tends to nest in typical Polistes fashion with nests built openly under eaves, on porches, and other overhanging structures, whereas perplexus has been observed nesting in places such as hollow trees and other enclosures. (Matthias Buck commented as such here.) I observed this specimen and a few others collecting fibers and building an open nest under an eave for nearly an hour.
Also the UGA extension office tells me that P. carolina is the more common species around here and much more likely to be encountered in open industrial areas such as here at work. After observing them building the nest, I collected one (the guys at work think I'm crazy now) to send to UGA for official ID based on gena. If it comes back perplexus I'll be sure to move this image.
* Thanks for the compliment on the photo. :) It was one of the best for that day. Hoping to get more.
… J.D. Roberts, 22 March, 2007 - 1:59pm login or register to post comments

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