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TaxonomyBrowse
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Subgenus Aphanilopterus

Paper Wasp - Polistes exclamans - female P. exclamans - Polistes exclamans - female Polistes ID request - Polistes bahamensis which species of paper wasp? - Polistes exclamans Polistes annularis? - Polistes annularis FL Wasp? - Polistes annularis Polistes exclamans? - Polistes exclamans Comanche Paper Wasp - Polistes comanchus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Vespoidea
Family Vespidae
Subfamily Polistinae (Paper Wasps)
Genus Polistes (Umbrella Paper Wasps)
No Taxon Subgenus Aphanilopterus
Other Common Names
Several species are known regionally as 'Jack Spaniard wasps'
Identification
All of our species in Polistes (Aphanilopterus) have orange-tipped antennae and the 1st abdominal segment noticeably longer than wide (in dorsal view). The subgenus may be divided into species groups.

The Polistes canadensis species-group in the United States are often larger species with a primarily unicolor abdomen, lacking stripes. This group contains P. annularis, P. canadensis, P. comanchus, and P. kaibabensis.
The P. exclamans species-group are often smaller species, typically with a striped abdomen. It contains P. arizonensis, P. bahamensis, and P. exclamans (also probably P. instabilis, though Richards grouped it separately(1)).

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Works Cited
1.The Social Wasps of the Americas Excluding the Vespinae
Richards, O.W. 1978. British Museum (Natural History).