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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) » Long-waisted Paper Wasps (Mischocyttarus) » Mexican Paper Wasp (Mischocyttarus mexicanus) » Mischocyttarus mexicanus cubicola
Photo#542809
Mischocyttarus nest - Mischocyttarus mexicanus
Copyright © 2011 John R. Maxwell

Mischocyttarus nest - Mischocyttarus mexicanus
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA
July 1, 2011
I saw this small nest attached to a palm frond that had fallen onto the hiking trial. I assume the nest was built when the frond was still on the tree and not made upright on the ground like a bunch of cups. Is there anything about the construction that might hint towards a possible maker?

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Mischocyttarus nest - Mischocyttarus mexicanus Mischocyttarus nest - Mischocyttarus mexicanus
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Contributed by John R. Maxwell on 9 July, 2011 - 5:39pm
Last updated 29 January, 2021 - 9:54pm

Moved
Moved from Long-waisted Paper Wasps. Now that M. mexicanus cubicola is considered the only Mischocyttarus in Florida.
… Jonathan Hoskins, 29 January, 2021 - 9:54pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Paper Wasps.
… Charley Eiseman, 12 December, 2011 - 2:15pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Vespula Vulgaris, 10 July, 2011 - 7:29pm login or register to post comments

 
Texture
Are they often this "chunky" and coarse (like it was made from bark)? I think I'm used to a smoother papery kind. I was wondering if that was due to the species, or just due to available materials? Or maybe weathering after it was abandoned caused it to start to "melt" and took away the soluable material and left the rest behind. I realize we may never know, but it looked cool!
… John R. Maxwell, 11 July, 2011 - 11:49am login or register to post comments

 
Texture & size
The use of short chips rather than long fibers (chunkiness) and the small size are characteristic of the genus ((1) p. 276). Apparently Mischocyttarus phthisicus occurs in Florida too, and I'm not sure how their nests would be distinguished.
… Charley Eiseman, 12 December, 2011 - 2:11pm login or register to post comments

wasp nest
One possibility - Mischocyttarus mexicanus cubicola.
… Ilona L., 9 July, 2011 - 9:04pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
I would have loved to see some of them while down there!
… John R. Maxwell, 11 July, 2011 - 11:50am login or register to post comments

 
wasps
They are really neat wasps and very calm. On our visits down to Florida I commonly find them building nests on awnings, inside mailboxes (the ones which don't close all the way) and under leaves of some of the large tropical plants.
… Ilona L., 11 July, 2011 - 12:16pm login or register to post comments

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