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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 Fuscopolistes (Polistes Subgenus Fuscopolistes) » Metric Paper Wasp (Polistes metricus)

Species Polistes metricus - Metric Paper Wasp

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · Range · Season · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Which Polistes? - Polistes metricus - female

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 Fuscopolistes)

Species metricus (Metric Paper Wasp)

Explanation of Names

Polistes metricus Say 1831

Identification

Very dark--abdomen is black (sometimes with red markings on the first tergites) and the thorax dark reddish-brown with black lines. Tibiae and tarsi are yellow (1). Males, like those of most Polistes species (exception being P. annularis), have a yellow face, while females have a reddish-brown face. Some images showing these markings:

Range

e. & so. US (map)(2)

Season

Summer

Print References

Hodges (2002) -- life history, natural enemies

Internet References

Species page (3)

Works Cited

1.	Insects in Kansas Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White. 2000. Kansas Dept. of Agriculture.

2.	Nearctic Hymenoptera other (Discover Life's IDnature guide)

3.	Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the Northeastern Nearctic Region Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K. B. Cheung. 2008. Biological Survey of Canada [Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification].

Contributed by Eric R. Eaton on 28 June, 2006 - 4:20pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Matthias Buck, Ted Kropiewnicki, Vespula vulgaris, v belov, PaleoJon, bdagley
Last updated 15 June, 2023 - 6:24pm

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