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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) » carolina or rubiginosus (Polistes carolina or rubiginosus)
Photo#286092
Scary big Wasp - Polistes
Copyright © 2009 Ezra Theiss

Scary big Wasp - Polistes
Harrison, Tennessee, USA
October 25, 2008
Size: Larger than normal
I only noticed this thing because I happened to look down while walking... I kind of was worried initially. Only once I saw it seemed to walk everywhere I ran inside and grabbed my camera...and took a couple shots hoping someone could tell me what it is as I have taken to calling them Red Wasp's

Images of this individual: tag all
Scary big Wasp - Polistes Scary big Wasp - Polistes
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Contributed by Ezra Theiss on 9 June, 2009 - 11:34am
Last updated 16 June, 2009 - 12:06am

Paper wasp.
Either Polistes carolina or P. perplexus. Cannot distinguish the two from images alone.
… Eric R. Eaton, 9 June, 2009 - 12:16pm login or register to post comments

 
Question?
Is or Was there a reason why it did not fly the whole time I was out there (which was almost 30mins)?
… Ezra Theiss, 9 June, 2009 - 12:23pm login or register to post comments

Keep being brave!
Wasps are fun to observe and photograph...and without much risk. I've learned this in the field and from a professional exterminator. However, he and I get very nervous around yellow jackets.

Sorry, I don't know your wasp, but it's quite likely someone else here will.
… Ron Hemberger, 9 June, 2009 - 11:46am login or register to post comments

 
Wasp's
a few times I have seen a wasp Bigger then a female Bumblebee...and it never landed for me to photograph...but I think this one looks amazing and deadly...real nature...beautiful but deadly.
… Ezra Theiss, 9 June, 2009 - 11:49am login or register to post comments

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