Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Polistes metricus - Metric Paper Wasp

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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 (Hornets, Yellowjackets; Paper, Potter, Mason, and Pollen Wasps; and Allies)
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
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].