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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 » Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies (Vespidae) » Paper Wasps (Polistinae) » Umbrella Paper Wasps (Polistes) » Subgenus Fuscopolistes (Polistes Subgenus Fuscopolistes) » Polistes bellicosus
Photo#176186
Paper Wasp - Polistes bellicosus - female
Copyright © 2008 Ron M.

Paper Wasp - Polistes bellicosus - Female
Destrahan, St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, USA
April 6, 2008
I know what's for dinner (Eastern Lubber Grasshopper - Romalea microptera). I am just not sure about wasp...

I am highly allergic to wasp. I have only been stung once by wasp in America and ended up in the ER. I got zapped by a yellow jacket and a some kind of red wasp in Korea with *major* swelling but no ER around... I was just a *bit* nervous and I am surprised the camera shake allowed me to get any good images at all... :)

Thanks in advance

Images of this individual: tag all
Paper Wasp - Polistes bellicosus - female Paper Wasp - Polistes bellicosus - female Paper Wasp - Polistes bellicosus - female Paper Wasp - Polistes bellicosus - female
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Contributed by Ron M. on 9 April, 2008 - 1:44pm
Last updated 19 February, 2018 - 7:58pm

P. dorsalis or bellicosus...
looks like either a P. dorsalis or a P. bellicosus to me.

most polistes species are very docile... they usually dont bother you unless you disturb thier nest. i am acually keeping one as a pet and she is raising her nest in cativity
… Vespula Vulgaris, 9 April, 2008 - 2:48pm login or register to post comments

 
I have noticed...
that these wasp generally don't seem to be bothered by my presents while they are feeding or foraging. My main concern was rolling over or kneeling on one of these guys while I was crawling around to get pictures of the Lubbers.
… Ron M., 10 April, 2008 - 11:45am login or register to post comments

 
bellicosus
I think you're right with the bellicosus ID, based on the markings of her face in particular.
… Jason D. Roberts, 9 April, 2008 - 10:11pm login or register to post comments

 
Correct
Furthermore, the discrete lateral yellow propodeal spots also exclude P. dorsalis (they occur sometimes in bellicosus). Great series of images of a very beautiful wasp!
… Matthias Buck, 10 April, 2008 - 8:32am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks to all that responded...
I had it narrowed down to a few guesses...

Thanks to whomever moved these pictures to the proper level also!
… Ron M., 10 April, 2008 - 11:45am login or register to post comments

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