|
|
| The Polistes wasps are the social paper making wasps of the US. These are the common paper nesters that make their varied form paper constructions beneath our eaves and barn roofs. They have powerful stings and do not appreciate having their dwellings shaken or stirred. There are only 19 species in the US and probably less than five in my area. P. fuscata, P. metrica and others. This is a Florida species from Eric. |
 |
| The local species have several red members. This may be P. fuscatus. They often take nectar especially in late summer. Males appear around this time as well in the female dominated world of the social species. |
 |
| This appears to be P. fuscatus as well. Nice dorsal thoracic markings. Males have yellows and banding, still have not shot one. |
 |
|
The large, late summer wandering specimen. May be P. fuscatus again. Ripe red this time. Really impressive wasps. And, of course, dangerous looking. They seem to track you when you are close. |
 |
| The wandering female P. fuscatus in Sept 2015 along the Buffalo. |
 |
| The ever photogenic P. fus again. In fall 2019 on the Goldenrod with all the other insects. Note the burned out buttonbush buttons here. |
 |
| The woodpile hickory chunks on Round Mountain are a favorite pulp gathering spot in 2020. |
 |
| The 2020 version on my Sumac flowers. They were attracting all the insects. |
 |
| The smaller Polistes with the pale antenna tips is Polistes annularis. Here with some caterpillar fodder. Note the two parasitic flies just below the wasp. |
