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Photo#79583
A serious drinking problem? - Polistes aurifer

A serious drinking problem? - Polistes aurifer
Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, Orange County, California, USA
September 25, 2006
Plop down in the water a couple inches from shore. Drink. Exit stage left. Odd, huh?

Since it doesn't appear to be a water strider mimic, I'm thinking this is polistes aurifer. So what's your vote?

Agreed.
I agree with the ID. This is typical worker Polistes behavior. They drink heavily because they need to generate saliva to mix with the wood fibers they scrape to make the paper nest.

 
Thanks for the ID and the excuse for heavy drinking.
Wish I'd had that in my twenties! LOL.

 
Moreover, there is yet a second excuse:
Water is used to refresh the nest by hot, dry weather, through evaporation of droplets workers spread on the paper cells. This phenomenon is enhanced by a typical fanning behavior, which even males sometimes exhibit. That's why paper wasps are especially fond of water. their long legs help them to float, a bit like water striders.
Indeed, some peasants here in Western Switzerland call P. dominulus the "water wasp".

 
Interesting, Richard
Particularly the part about the fanning. Maybe the name should be changed to Polistes aquifer. (Bad joke, huh?)

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