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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 » Vespidae » Paper Wasps (Polistinae) » Umbrella Paper Wasps (Polistes) » Subgenus Polistes (Polistes Subgenus Polistes) » European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula)
Photo#323607
Polistes dominula? - Polistes dominula - female
Copyright © 2009 Jerry Friedman

Polistes dominula? - Polistes dominula - Female
Española, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, USA
August 22, 2009
Size: about 1.6 cm
I think it is, but I'd like to be sure.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Jerry Friedman on 22 August, 2009 - 4:19pm
Last updated 23 September, 2009 - 3:10pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Abigail Parker, 23 September, 2009 - 3:10pm login or register to post comments

Wow
That is one badly parasitized nest! dominula seem to be more affected by this than other species are
… Vespula Vulgaris, 22 August, 2009 - 7:46pm login or register to post comments

 
now I'm interested too!
I brightened the image a bit to get a better look at the cells, it does look like there are silk cocoons or something in them. What kind of creature parasitizes wasp nests?
… Abigail Parker, 23 September, 2009 - 1:39pm login or register to post comments

 
webworms!
a wasp keeper's worst night mare. they build their cocoons in the empty cells and take over the nest causing severe damage!
… Breanna Lyle, 23 September, 2009 - 3:03pm login or register to post comments

 
"Webworms"
...is a term used for a variety of moth larvae. Apparently Chalcoela is the moth genus that makes webbing in Polistes nests.
… Charley Eiseman, 3 July, 2014 - 5:40pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks.
That's interesting to know. Maybe they can be used to control ''P. dominula'' where it displaces native species—but more likely not. :-)
… Jerry Friedman, 23 September, 2009 - 4:40pm login or register to post comments

 
never knew that!
Since wasps feed caterpillars to their young, I didn't think caterpillars would move into a wasp nest - unless it's safe there because it's the last place the adult wasps would look...
… Abigail Parker, 23 September, 2009 - 3:09pm login or register to post comments

 
Interesting.
What parasitizes the nest, and where can I see it in the picture?
… Jerry Friedman, 22 August, 2009 - 8:27pm login or register to post comments

Yes!
It's dominula alright, the orange aentenna are a dead give away!
… Breanna Lyle, 22 August, 2009 - 4:22pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
Good to know. So far they haven't objected to my using the same front porch they're using.
… Jerry Friedman, 22 August, 2009 - 4:31pm login or register to post comments

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