Polistes

{{Short description|Genus of wasps}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Wasp May 2008-11.jpg | image_caption = ''Polistes gallicus'' | taxon = Polistes | authority = Latreille, 1802 | type_species = ''Polistes gallicus'' | type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1767 <ref name=Carpenter2008/> | synonyms= *''Eupolistes'' Dalla Torre, 1904 *''Sulcopolistes'' Blüthgen, 1938 *''Polistula'' Weyrauch, 1939 *''Pseudopolistes'' Weyrauch, 1939 *''Leptopolistes'' Blüthgen, 1943 | synonyms_ref =<ref name=Europe/> }}

thumb|''P. metricus'', female

'''''Polistes''''' is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe '''Polistini'''. Vernacular names for the genus include '''umbrella wasps''', coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in reference to the form of their nests,<ref name=Ebeling1975/> and '''umbrella paper wasps'''.<ref name=Chakraborti2018/> ''Polistes'' is the single largest genus within the family Vespidae, with over 200 recognized species.<ref name=Carpenter1996/> Their innate preferences for nest-building sites leads them to commonly build nests on human habitation, where they can be very unwelcome; although generally not aggressive, they can be provoked into defending their nests. All species are predatory, and they may consume large numbers of caterpillars, in which respect they are generally considered beneficial.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==Description== As part of subfamily Polistinae, ''Polistes'' wasps are covered in short and inconspicuous hair, have a clypeus with a pointed apex, have a gena that is wide throughout, tergum 1 of the metasoma is almost straight to gently arched in profile, the tibia of the mid leg has two spurs, and the legs end in simple tarsal claws. The genus can be distinguished from other Polistinae by a sessile metasoma (the first segment at most slightly longer than wide) and the fourth tarsomeres of the mid and hind legs being symmetrical.<ref name=Buck2008/>

''Polistes'' show sexual dimorphism, with males having seven externally visible metasomal segments whereas females have six. This trait is shared with other vespid wasps.<ref name=Buck2008/>

''Polistes'' species have single-layered nests which are shaped like an umbrella, with the cells exposed to the air from the bottom, and no layer wrapping around the nest. The nests are suspended from a surface by a petiole and are constructed from a paper-like substance made of a mix of saliva and wood fibres chewed off old and soft wood or dead twigs. Many ''Polistes'' species in general often have nests supported by a longer petiole than those of ''Vespula''.<ref name=Ebeling1975/>

==Biochemistry== Carlson et al 1998 finds the cuticular hydrocarbons of ''Polistes'' to be, similarly to many other insects, predominantly many-branched methyl branched alkanes. The reviews of Nelson 1978, Lockey 1988 and Nelson 1993 concur.<ref name=Dani2006/>

==Life cycle== The general life cycle of ''Polistes'' can be divided into four phases:<ref name=Reeve1991/> #Founding (or pre-emergence) phase #Worker phase #Reproductive phase #Intermediate phase

===Founding (or pre-emergence) phase=== The founding stage begins in the spring when a solitary female (the "foundress") (or a small group of related females) initiates the construction of a nest. The wasps begin by fashioning a petiole, a short stalk which will connect the new nest to a substrate (often the eave of a house or outbuilding), and building a single brood cell at the end of it. Further cells are added laterally in a hexagonal pattern, each cell surrounded by six others. Although nests can achieve impressive sizes, they almost always maintain a basic shape: petiolated (stellocyttarous), single-combed, unprotected, and open (gymnodomous).

Eggs are laid by the foundress directly into the brood cells and are guarded by the foundress and the assisting females (if present). After the first larvae hatch, the foundress feeds them via progressive provisioning, bringing softened caterpillar flesh to the larvae multiple times throughout their development (as opposed to the one-time provisioning seen in some other hymenopteran groups). Each of this first seasonal brood of new paper wasps is exclusively female and destined to a subordinate worker position inside the nest; they do not found their own nests and instead assist their mother in the care and maintenance of future sisters.

Some foundress wasps do not build their own nests, but rather attempt to usurp that of another female. These usurpation attempts may or may not be successful, but almost always result in impressive displays of aggression and violence. Females may also adopt a more peaceful alternative reproduction strategy by joining the nest of a close relative (usually a sister) and working as assisting females. In the latter case, such cofounding females are generally, but not exclusively, close relatives.<ref name=Reeve1991/>

===Worker phase=== The worker phase usually begins in the early summer, roughly two months after colony initiation, with the emergence of the first workers. These new females take up most of the colony's work duties, foraging, caring for brood, and maintaining the structure of the nest. Around this time, those females which assisted in nest foundation (if present) are driven from the nest by aggressive behavior on the part of the foundress, and leave either to start their own late-season nests or usurp another's.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

===Reproductive phase=== The reproductive phase of the colony begins when the first female reproductives (the gynes) emerge from their brood cells. These reproductives differ from their worker sisters by having increased levels of fat stores and cryoprotectant carbohydrate compounds (allowing them to survive the overwintering period). These reproductives contribute genes directly to the next generation, while their worker sisters normally pass along their genes indirectly.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

===Intermediate phase=== Once male reproductives emerge and both males and females disperse from the natal nest for mating flights, the so-called intermediate phase begins. Brood care and foraging behavior decline and worker numbers drop as dying individuals are no longer replaced by new ones. Intracolonial aggression increases and the social cohesion of the nest declines. In temperate ''Polistes'' species, individuals (almost exclusively inseminated females) gather in groups of up to 50 individuals and seek a sheltered location (called a hibernaculum) in which to overwinter.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==Behavior== ===Kin selection=== {{main|Kin selection}} The reproductive behavior of ''Polistes'' wasps provided some of the first evidence for the mathematical biologist W. D. Hamilton's 1964 theory of kin selection. Hamilton showed that animals such as workers could be expected to provide assistance to relatives such as their queens according to the costs and benefits involved (K) and their degree of genetic relatedness (r), and gave the rule that now carries his name, K > 1/r.<ref name=Hamilton1964/> Early caution existed among researchers as to whether social insects could really assess their relatedness. Hamilton himself suggested an alternative possibility, namely that kin could become associated simply by "population viscosity" —that offspring tend not to disperse far from their birthplaces— and West-Eberhard (1969) found some evidence for this in ''Polistes''. However, ''Polistes'' species are now known to learn and remember chemical signals (hydrocarbons) picked up from the nest to distinguish nestmates accurately from non-relatives.<ref name="West-Eberhard2003"/>

===Dominance hierarchy system=== Morphologically, the foundress and subordinate reproductive members of the colony differ little. However, behavioral differentiation occurs among females both between and within generations. For example, in the species ''Polistes humilis'' the queen displays a "tail-wagging" behavior to assert her dominance over the worker class.<ref name = nesting/> Similarly,  ''Polistes canadensis'' also possesses behavioral differentiation between the queen and her nestmates, with the queen often suppressing the aggressive behavior of subordinates through lateral abdominal vibrations and stroking. In contrast, unmated females are not aggressive.<ref name=West-Eberhard1986/> In ''Polistes exclamans'' queens have different amounts of glucose, fructose, and trehalose which lead to different cryoprotectant levels. This alters their survivability in different temperatures, increasing their odds of reproduction. Females in ''P. bellicosus'' are also morphologically similar between caste separations. For example, a ''P. bellicosus'' worker could become queen, and egg-layer, if all of the original foundresses die or leave the nest.<ref name=Hughes1993/> This is also true for ''Polistes dorsalis'', which also displays dominant behavior. Despite having no distinct morphological caste, roles of ''P. dorsalis'' tend to be fixed in a system with division of labor.<ref name=Jandt2013/>

===Nestmate recognition=== ''Polistes'' spp. discriminate colony mates using an acquired (i.e. learned) cue, absorbing hydrocarbons from the natal nest at eclosion.<ref name=Gamboa1996/> This cuticular hydrocarbon "signature" is derived both from the plant material and the foundress-applied substances from which the nest is made. Studies of ''Polistes fuscatus'' have researched the molecular basis of the recognition "pheromone" used by the wasps, and indicate at least some of the recognizable labels have the same chemical constituents as the adult cuticular hydrocarbons. Similar recognition is found in ''Polistes metricus''. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Singer |first1=T.L. |last2=Espelie |first2=K.E. |title=Exposure to nest paper hydrocarbons is important for nest recognition by a social wasp, Polistes metricus Say (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) |journal=Insectes Sociaux |date=1 August 1997 |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=245–254 |doi=10.1007/s000400050045 |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s000400050045 |language=en |issn=1420-9098|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Dominant individuals of ''P. dominula'' have differing cuticular profiles from workers,<ref name=Bonavita-Cougourdan1991/> and the frequent observations of the dominant female stroking its gaster across the nest surface, combined with its staying on the nest for longer times than subordinates, suggests the dominant individual may contribute more to the nest odor.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

''P. carolina'' females do not preferentially feed their own progeny (as larvae).<ref name=Strassman2000/>

Further to this recognition of nestmates, ''Polistes biglumis'' foundresses discriminate between 'alien' eggs and their own via differential oophagy.<ref name=Lorenzi2000/>

==Gallery== <gallery mode=packed widths=160px heights=160px> Polistes sp wasp.jpg|''Polistes africanus'' wasp on a nest in Tanzania. RedWaspNest.jpg|''Polistes annularis'' (ringed paper wasp) nest in the United States. Polistes brunus (15686149903).jpg|''Polistes brunus'' in Thailand. Polistes carnifex - Henkerwespe 131400644.jpg|''Polistes carnifex carnifex'' in Mexico. Polistes cavapyta 113514045.jpg|''Polistes cavapyta'' in Brazil. Yellow Paper Wasp.jpg|''Polistes dominula'' (European paper wasp), invasive in Western Australia. Paper wasp drinking water - Flickr - treegrow.jpg|''Polistes dorsalis neotropicus'' in Arizona. Goeldi's Paper Wasp, Puerto Inca Province, Peru imported from iNaturalist photo 241776678.jpg|''Polistes goeldii'' on a nest in Puerto Inca Province, Peru. Polistes major colombianus (208336507).jpg|''Polistes major colombianus'' in Colombia. Marimbondo na folhagem (cropped).jpg|''Polistes ridleyi'', endemic to Fernando Noronha, Brazil. Polistes sagittarius, Siem Reap, Cambodia.jpg|''Polistes sagittarius'' in Cambodia. Polistes testaceicolor 141198661.jpg|''Polistes tescaceicolor'' in Peru. Paper wasp (polistes wattii).jpg|''Polistes wattii'' in Musandam Peninsula, Oman. File:Wasp takes caterpillar.webm|thumbtime=145|A European paper wasp takes a monarch butterfly caterpillar from within a narrow leaf milkweed umbel. Part is shown at one-fourth speed. File:EPWaspAphids.webm|thumbtime=24|A European paper wasp preying on Milkweed aphids which are on narrow leaf milkweed. Most scenes are repeated at one-fourth speed. File:Paper wasp foundress.webm|thumbtime=4|Single paper wasp foundress establishes her nest, adding cells, renewing repellent on the pedicle. She has already laid eggs in several of the incomplete cells and continually checks the nest and cells File:Paper wasp nest raided.png|Foundress' nest raided by a rat, beetle or other predator. Nest was previously photographed eleven days earlier when there were five eggs. If the foundress survived, she would start a new nest at a different location File:Paperwasp Nest Building.webm|thumbtime=0| Worker adding additional material to expand nest File:Paperwasp Watering.webm|thumbtime=0|Water is brought to the nest for the larvae File:Paperwasp Food.webm|thumbtime=0| Masticated caterpillar portion brought to nest and fed to the larvae File:Paperwasp Fanning.webm|thumbtime=0| Wasps fanning the nest with their wings to provide breeze/cooling File:Paperwasp Egg Replace.webm|thumbtime=0| Queen replacing an egg that was either not viable or laid by a worker File:Paperwasp Evaporation.webm|thumbtime=0| Wasps bring water to place in nest to provide cooling by evaporation File:Paper wasp disturbed.webm|thumbtime=10|Paper wasps disturbed by hits to their nest support. File:Paper wasp males.webm|thumbtime=22|End of season: Male wasps mature and leave, nest shuts down leaving nest empty. </gallery>

==Species== 203 species were described in the genus by 1996,<ref name=Carpenter1996/> and new species continue to be described.<ref name=Buck2012/> There are nine species in Europe.<ref name=Europe/>

229 species and 125 subspecies are as follows:<ref name=Carpenter2006/><ref name=Buck2012/><ref name=Neumeyer2014/><ref name=Schmid-Egger2017/>  {{div col|colwidth=17em}} *''Polistes actaeon'' Haliday, 1836 *''Polistes adelphus'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes adustus'' Bingham, 1897 *''Polistes affinis'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *''Polistes africanus'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 *''Polistes albicinctus'' de Saussure, 1890 *''Polistes albocalcaratus'' du Buysson, 1905 *''Polistes angulinus'' Richards, 1951 *''Polistes angusticlypeus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *''Polistes annularis'' (Linnaeus, 1763) *''Polistes apachus'' (de Saussure, 1857) *''Polistes apicalis'' de Saussure, 1858 *''Polistes aquilinus'' du Buysson, 1905 *''Polistes arizonensis'' Snelling, 1954 *''Polistes arthuri'' Cameron, 1901 *''Polistes assamensis'' Bingham, 1897 *''Polistes associus'' Kohl, 1898 *''Polistes asterope'' Cameron, 1901 **''Polistes asterope arvidi'' Petersen, 1990 **''Polistes asterope asterope'' Cameron, 1901 **''Polistes asterope narupi'' Petersen, 1990 *''Polistes aterrimus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes atrimandibularis'' Zimmermann, 1930 *''Polistes atrox'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes aurifer'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes austroccidentalis'' Van Achterberg & Neumeyer, 2017<ref name=Schmid-Egger2017/> *''Polistes badius'' Gerstaecker, 1871 *''Polistes bahamensis'' Bequaert & Salt, 1931 *''Polistes balder'' Kirby, 1888 *''Polistes bambusae'' Richards, 1978 **''Polistes bambusae bambusae'' Richards, 1978 **''Polistes bambusae humboldti'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes bellicosus'' Cresson, 1872 *''Polistes bequaertellus'' Snelling, 1983, *''Polistes bequaerti'' von Schulthess, 1921 *''Polistes bequaertianus'' Willink, 1954 *''Polistes bicolor'' Lepeletier, 1836 *''Polistes biglumis'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *''Polistes biguttatus'' Haliday, 1836 *''Polistes billardieri'' Fabricius, 1804 **''Polistes billardieri biglumoides'' Ducke, 1904 **''Polistes billardieri billardieri'' Fabricius, 1804 **''Polistes billardieri ruficornis'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes binotatus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes bischoffi'' Weyrauch, 1937 *''Polistes bituberculatus'' du Buysson, 1905 *''Polistes boharti'' Snelling, 1983 *''Polistes brevifissus'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes brunus'' Nguyen & Carpenter, 2017<ref name=Nguyen2017/> *''Polistes bucharensis'' Petersen, 1990<ref name=Schmid-Egger2017/> *''Polistes buruensis'' Erichson, 184 *''Polistes buyssoni'' Brèthes, 1909 *''Polistes callimorphus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes canadensis'' (Linnaeus, 1758) **''Polistes canadensis borientalis'' Richards, 1978 **''Polistes canadensis canadensis'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *''Polistes candidoi'' von Ihering, 1903 *''Polistes capnodes'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes capnodes capnodes'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes capnodes incomptus'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes capnodes quadrifasciatus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''Polistes carnifex'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes carnifex boliviensis'' Bequaert, 1936 **''Polistes carnifex carnifex'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes carnifex carnifex'' Latreille, 1817 *''Polistes carolina'' (Linnaeus, 1767) *''Polistes cavapyta'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes cavapytiformis'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes celebensis'' Selis, 2018 *''Polistes chinensis'' (Fabricius, 1793) **''Polistes chinensis antennalis'' Pérez, 1905 **''Polistes chinensis chinensis'' (Fabricius, 1793) *''Polistes cinerascens'' de Saussure, 1854 *''Polistes claripennis'' Ducke, 1904 *''Polistes clavicornis'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''Polistes comanchus'' de Saussure, 1857 **''Polistes comanchus comanchus'' de Saussure, 1857 **''Polistes comanchus navajoe'' Cresson, 1868 *''Polistes communalis'' Nguyen, Vu, & Carpenter, 2017<ref name=Nguyen2017/> *''Polistes consobrinus'' de Saussure, 1858 *''Polistes contrarius'' Cheesman, 1951 *''Polistes crinitus'' (Felton, 1765) **''Polistes crinitus americanus'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes crinitus crinitus'' (Felton, 1765) **''Polistes crinitus multicolor'' (Olivier, 1792) *''Polistes cubensis'' Lepeletier, 1836 *''Polistes davillae'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes dawnae'' Dover & Rao, 1922 *''Polistes deceptor'' Schulz, 1905 *''Polistes defectivus'' Gerstaecker, 1871 *''Polistes delhiensis'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *''Polistes diabolicus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes diakonovi'' Kostylev, 1940 *''Polistes dominicus'' (Vallot, 1802) *''Polistes dominula'' (Christ, 1791) *''Polistes dorsalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes dorsalis californicus'' Bohart, 1949 **''Polistes dorsalis clarionensis'' Bohart, 1949 **''Polistes dorsalis dorsalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes dorsalis maritimus'' Bequaert, 1940 **''Polistes dorsalis neotropicus'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes ebsohinus'' Sonan, 1943 *''Polistes eburneus'' Bequaert, 1943 *''Polistes elegans'' Smith, 1859 *''Polistes ellenbergi'' du Buysson, 1908 *''Polistes ephippium'' Cameron, 1900 *''Polistes erythrinus'' Holmgren, 1868 *''Polistes erythrocephalus'' Latreille, 1813 *''Polistes esperanzae'' Selis, 2018 *''Polistes exclamans'' Viereck, 1906 *''Polistes extraneus'' Kirby, 1883 *''Polistes facilis'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes fastidiosus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes ferreri'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes flavitarsis'' Selis, 2018 *''Polistes flavobilineatus'' (Cameron, 1902) *''Polistes flavus'' Cresson, 1868 *''Polistes foederatus'' Kohl, 1898<ref name=Schmid-Egger2017/> *''Polistes fordi'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''Polistes formosanus'' Sonan, 1927 *''Polistes franciscanus'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes fuscatus'' (Fabricius, 1793) *''Polistes gallicus'' (Linnaeus, 1767) *''Polistes geminatus'' Fox, 1898 **''Polistes geminatus geminatus'' Fox, 1898 **''Polistes geminatus guyanensis'' Cameron, 1912 *''Polistes gigas'' (Kirby, 1826) *''Polistes goeldii'' Ducke, 1904 *''Polistes haugi'' du Buysson, 1906 *''Polistes hebridensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **''Polistes hebridensis erromangensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **''Polistes hebridensis hebridensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **''Polistes hebridensis malekulensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **''Polistes hebridensis vilensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 *''Polistes helveticus'' Neumeyer, 2014<ref name=Neumeyer2014/> *''Polistes hirsuticornis'' Buck, 2012<ref name=Buck2012/> *''Polistes horrendus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *''Polistes huacapistana'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes huisunensis'' Kuo, 1987 *''Polistes humeralis'' Polašek, 2023 *''Polistes humilis'' (Fabricius, 1781) **''Polistes humilis centrocontinentalis'' Giordani Soika, 1975 **''Polistes humilis humilis'' (Fabricius, 1781) **''Polistes humilis synoecus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes incertus'' Cresson, 1865 *''Polistes indicus'' Stolfa, 1934 *''Polistes infuscatus'' Lepeletier, 1836 **''Polistes infuscatus anduzei'' Bequaert, 1943 **''Polistes infuscatus ecuadorius'' Richards, 1978 **''Polistes infuscatus infuscatus'' Lepeletier, 1836 **''Polistes infuscatus mariae'' Richards, 1978 **''Polistes infuscatus metensis'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes instabilis'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes intermedius'' Kojima, 1988 *''Polistes iranus'' Guiglia, 1976 *''Polistes japonicus'' de Saussure, 1858 *''Polistes jokahamae'' Radoszkowski, 1887 *''Polistes kaibabensis'' Hayward, 1932 *''Polistes khasianus'' Cameron, 1900 *''Polistes laevigatissimus'' Giordani Soika, 1975 *''Polistes lanio'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes lanio lanio'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes lanio satanulus'' Bequaert, 1940 **''Polistes lanio weberi'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes lateritius'' Smith, 1857 *''Polistes latinis'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *''Polistes legnotus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''Polistes lepcha'' Cameron, 1900 *''Polistes lineonotus'' Bohart, 1949 *''Polistes loveridgei'' Bequaert, 1938 *''Polistes lycus'' Cameron, 1901 *''Polistes macrocephalus'' Bequaert, 1918 *''Polistes madecassus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes madiburensis'' von Schulthess, 1921 *''Polistes major'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 **''Polistes major bonaccensis'' Bequaert, 1937 **''Polistes major castaneicolor'' Bequaert, 1936 **''Polistes major colombianus'' Bequaert, 1940 **''Polistes major major'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 **''Polistes major weyrauchi'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes mandarinus'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes maranonensis'' Willink, 1964 *''Polistes marginalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes marginalis baidoensis'' Giordani Soika, 1944 **''Polistes marginalis lindensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **''Polistes marginalis marginalis'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes marginalis meruensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 *''Polistes maroccanus'' Schmid-Egger, 2017<ref name=Schmid-Egger2017/> *''Polistes meadeanus'' von Schulthess, 1913 *''Polistes melanopterus'' Cameron, 1911 *''Polistes melanosoma'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes melanotus'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes mertoni'' du Buysson, 1913 *''Polistes metricus'' Say, 1831 *''Polistes mexicanus'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes minor'' Palisot de Beauvois, 1818 *''Polistes mongolicus'' Buysson, 1911<ref name=Schmid-Egger2017/> *''Polistes moraballi'' Richards, 1951 *''Polistes myersi'' Bequaert, 1934 **''Polistes myersi curassavicus'' Richards, 1978 **''Polistes myersi myersi'' Bequaert, 1934 *''Polistes mysteriosus'' Bequaert, 1938 *''Polistes niger'' Brèthes, 1903 *''Polistes nigrifrons'' Smith, 1859 **''Polistes nigrifrons nigrifrons'' Smith, 1859 **''Polistes nigrifrons obdurus'' Cheesman, 1951 **''Polistes nigrifrons stotherti'' Meade-Waldo, 1916 *''Polistes nigritarsis'' Cameron, 1900 *''Polistes nigrosericans'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes nimpha'' (Christ, 1791) *''Polistes ninabamba'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes nipponensis'' Pérez, 1905 *''Polistes notatipes'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes obscurus'' de Saussure, 1863 *''Polistes occipitalis'' Ducke, 1904 *''Polistes occultus'' Kojima, 1988 *''Polistes oculatus'' Smith, 1857 *''Polistes olivaceus'' (DeGeer, 1773) *''Polistes opacus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *''Polistes ornatus'' Lepeletier, 1836 *''Polistes pacificus'' Fabricius, 1804 *''Polistes palmarum'' Bequaert, 1936 *''Polistes paraguayensis'' Bertoni, 1921 *''Polistes parametricus'' Buck, 2012<ref name=Buck2012/> *''Polistes penai'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes penthicus'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes penthicus ater'' Petersen, 1990 **''Polistes penthicus malaitensis'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes penthicus penthicus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''Polistes perflavus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''Polistes peruvianus'' Bequaert, 1934 *''Polistes philippinensis'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes poeyi'' Lepeletier, 1836 **''Polistes poeyi haitiensis'' Bequaert and Salt, 1931 **''Polistes poeyi poeyi'' Lepeletier, 1836 *''Polistes praenotatus'' Kohl, 1908 *''Polistes pseudoculatus'' Snelling, 1955 *''Polistes quadricingulatus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *''Polistes ridleyi'' Kirby, 1890 *''Polistes riekii'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes riparius'' Yamane & Yamane, 1987 *''Polistes rossi'' Bohart, 1949 *''Polistes rothneyi'' Cameron, 1900 **''Polistes rothneyi carletoni'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi engeli'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi grahami'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi gressitti'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi hainanensis'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi helvenacus'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi ingrami'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi iwatai'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi koreanus'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi krombeini'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi quatei'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi robinsoni'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi rothneyi'' Cameron, 1900 **''Polistes rothneyi sikkimensis'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi tibetanus'' van der Vecht, 1968 **''Polistes rothneyi vechti'' Das and Gupta, 1984 **''Polistes rothneyi rothneyi'' Matsumura, 1911 *''Polistes rubellus'' Gusenleitner, 2006 *''Polistes rubiginosus'' Lepeletier, 1836<ref name=Buck2012/> *''Polistes rufidens'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes rufiventris'' Ducke, 1904 *''Polistes rufodorsalis'' Yamane & Kusigemati, 1985 *''Polistes sagittarius'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes santoshae'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *''Polistes satan'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes saussurei'' Dalla Torre, 1894 *''Polistes schach'' (Fabricius, 1781) *''Polistes semenowi'' Morawitz, 1889 *''Polistes semiflavus'' Holmgren, 1868 *''Polistes sgarambus'' Giordani Soika, 1975 *''Polistes shirakii'' Sonan, 1943 *''Polistes sikorae'' de Saussure, 1900 *''Polistes similis'' Das & Gupta, 1984 *''Polistes simillimus'' Zikán, 1951 *''Polistes simulatus'' Smith, 1860 **''Polistes simulatus halmaheirensis'' Petersen, 1990 **''Polistes simulatus morotaiensis'' Petersen, 1990 **''Polistes simulatus obiensis'' Petersen, 1990 **''Polistes simulatus simulatus'' Smith, 1860 *''Polistes smithii'' de Saussure, 1853 **''Polistes smithii neavei'' von Schulthess, 1921 **''Polistes smithii smithii'' de Saussure, 1853 *''Polistes snelleni'' de Saussure, 1862 *''Polistes stabilinus'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes stenopus'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes stenopus brandti'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes stenopus ganonganus'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes stenopus manni'' van der Vecht, 1972 **''Polistes stenopus stenopus'' van der Vecht, 1972 *''Polistes stigma'' (Fabricius, 1793) ** ''Polistes stigma alagari'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma bernardii'' Le Guillou, 1841 ** ''Polistes stigma dubius'' de Saussure, 1867 ** ''Polistes stigma galatheae'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma goestai'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma jani'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma maculipennis'' de Saussure, 1853 ** ''Polistes stigma madsi'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma manillensis'' de Saussure, 1853 ** ''Polistes stigma nebulosus'' Yamane & Kusigemati, 1985 ** ''Polistes stigma novarae'' de Saussure, 1867 ** ''Polistes stigma papuanus'' Schulz, 1905 ** ''Polistes stigma pouli'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma sauiensis'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma stigma'' (Fabricius, 1793) ** ''Polistes stigma svendi'' Petersen, 1987 ** ''Polistes stigma tamulus'' (Fabricius, 1798)<ref name=Castro2009/> ** ''Polistes stigma townsvillensis'' Giordani Soika, 1975 ** ''Polistes stigma tualensis'' Petersen, 1987 *''Polistes strigosus'' Bequaert, 1940 **''Polistes strigosus atratus'' Das and Gupta, 1989 **''Polistes strigosus mimus'' Bequaert, 1940 **''Polistes strigosus strigosus'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes subsericeus'' de Saussure, 1854 *''Polistes takasagonus'' Sonan, 1943 *''Polistes tenebricosus'' Lepeletier, 1836 *''Polistes tenebris'' Nguyen & Lee 2017<ref name=Nguyen2017/> *''Polistes tenellus'' du Buysson, 1905 **''Polistes tenellus lahejensis'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **''Polistes tenellus minutissimus'' Giordani Soika, 1981 **''Polistes tenellus tenellus'' du Buysson, 1905 *''Polistes tenuipunctatus'' Selis, 2018 *''Polistes tenuispunctia'' Kim, 2001 *''Polistes tepidus'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes tepidus batjanensis'' Cameron, 1911 **''Polistes tepidus malayanus'' Cameron, 1906 **''Polistes tepidus manusensis'' Petersen, 1990 **''Polistes tepidus picteti'' de Saussure, 1853 **''Polistes tepidus speciosus'' du Buysson, 1913 **''Polistes tepidus tepidus'' (Fabricius, 1775) **''Polistes tepidus theodori'' Petersen, 1990 *''Polistes testaceicolor'' Bequaert, 1937 *''Polistes thoracicus'' Fox, 1898 *''Polistes torresae'' Silveira, 1994 *''Polistes tristis'' Meade-Waldo, 1911 *''Polistes tullgreni'' Schulz, 1906 *''Polistes utakwae'' Meade-Waldo, 1916 *''Polistes variabilis'' (Fabricius, 1781) *''Polistes veracrucis'' Richards, 1978 *''Polistes versicolor'' (Olivier, 1792) **''Polistes versicolor flavoguttatus'' Bequaert, 1934 **''Polistes versicolor kaieteurensis'' Bequaert, 1934 **''Polistes versicolor versicolor'' (Olivier, 1792) *''Polistes wattii'' Cameron, 1900 *''Polistes watutus'' Kojima, 1988 *''Polistes weyrauchorum'' Willink, 1964 *''Polistes williamsi'' Petersen, 1990 *''Polistes xanthogaster'' Bequaert, 1940 **''Polistes xanthogaster willei'' Bequaert, 1940 **''Polistes xanthogaster xanthogaster'' Bequaert, 1940 *''Polistes xantholeucus'' van der Vecht, 1984 {{div col end}}

==Pest status== [[File:Polistes_chinensis_antennalis_(cropped).jpg|thumb|''Polistes chinensis antennalis'', Asian paper wasp has established itself as a pest species in New Zealand.]]

Along with the German and common wasps, the Asian and Australian paper wasps (''P. chinensis'' and ''P. humilis'') are considered pests in New Zealand. Arriving in 1979,<ref name=NewZealand/> the Asian paper wasp has established itself in both the North Island and the northern parts of the South Island. Because it competes with native species (such as the kaka) for insects, nectar, and honeydew,<ref name=Clapperton1999/><ref name=Richard2004/> it is a hindrance to conservation efforts.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

In North America, the introduced European species ''Polistes dominula'' has rapidly colonized a significant area, and is considered an invasive pest.<ref name="Cervo 155–157">{{cite journal|last=Cervo|first=R|author2=F. Zacchi |author3=S. Turillazzi |title=''Polistes dominulus'' (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) invading North America: some hypotheses for its rapid spread|journal=Insectes Sociaux|date=May 2000|volume=47|issue=2|pages=155–157|doi=10.1007/pl00001694|s2cid=45652070}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Gamboa|first=G. J.|author2=M. A. Noble |author3=M. C. Thom |author4=J. L. Togal |author5=R. Srinivasan |author6=B. D. Murphy |title=The comparative biology of two sympatric paper wasps in Michigan, the native ''Polistes fuscatus'' and the invasive ''Polistes dominulus'' (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)|journal=Insectes Sociaux|date=May 2004|volume=51|issue=2|pages=153–157|doi=10.1007/s00040-003-0721-1|s2cid=25888893}}</ref> It is a concern for cherry and grape growers in British Columbia, as it injures the fruit by biting off the skin. It also spreads yeast and fungi that harm fruit and can be a nuisance to workers and pickers at harvest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alienspecies.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/eng/species/european-paper-wasp|title=European Paper Wasp|work=royalbcmuseum.bc.ca|access-date=2013-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217225046/http://alienspecies.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/eng/species/european-paper-wasp|archive-date=2013-12-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is evidence it has also displaced native paper wasp species by outcompeting them.<ref name="Citation 1">{{cite journal|last=Queller|first=David|author2=Fracesca Zacchi |author3=Ria Cervo |author4=Stefano Turillazzi |author5=Michael Henshaw |author6=Lorenzo Santorelli |author7=Joan Strassmann |title=Unrelated helpers in a social insect|journal=Nature|date=15 June 2000|volume=405|issue=6788|doi=10.1038/35015552 |pmid=10866197|pages=784–787|bibcode=2000Natur.405..784Q|s2cid=4340200}}</ref>

==Parasites== Various other insects are parasites or parasitoids of ''Polistes'', including flies (e.g., Sarcophagidae), mantispids, and wasps in the families Torymidae, Mutillidae (rarely), Braconidae, and Ichneumonidae (e.g. ''Latibulus argiolus''). Some more specialized groups are more intimately associated with ''Polistes''; this includes strepsipterans in the family Stylopidae (genus ''Xenos''), wasps of the genus ''Elasmus'' (formerly placed in their own family, "Elasmidae"), and wasps in the family Trigonalidae.

The nests of many species of this wasp genus are invaded by the parasitoid caterpillars of the moth ''Chalcoela iphitalis'' which feed on the wasp larvae and pupas at night, spinning their cocoons in empty cells.<ref name=Krombein1979/><ref name=Madden2010/><ref name=Mischocyttarus/>

Within the subgenus ''Polistes'' are four known social obligate parasites: ''P. atrimandibularis'', ''P. austroccidentalis'', ''P. maroccanus'', and ''P. semenowi'', which parasitize other ''Polistes'' wasps.<ref name=Schmid-Egger2017/> Known host species of these parasites are ''P. dominulus'', ''P. gallicus'', ''P. nimphus'', ''P. associus'', and ''P. biglumis''.<ref name=Cervo/> Although these parasites differ in their host invasion strategies, their end goal is to successfully infiltrate the host nest and reproduce at the host's expense.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==References== {{Reflist|refs=

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<ref name=Nguyen2017>{{cite journal |last1=Nguyen |first1=Lien Thi Phuong |last2=Vu |first2=Thuong Thi |last3=Lee |first3=John X.Q. |last4=Carpenter |first4=James M |date=2017 |title=Taxonomic notes on the ''Polistes stigma'' group (Hymenoptera, vespidae: Polistinae) from continental Southeast Asia, with descriptions of three new species and a key to species |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318886452 |journal=The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology |volume=65 |pages=269–279 |access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref>

<ref name=Neumeyer2014> {{cite journal |last1=Neumeyer |first1=Rainer |last2=Baur |first2=Hannes |last3=Guex |first3= Gaston-Denis |last4=Praz |first4= Christophe |date=2014 |title=A new species of the paper wasp genus ''Polistes'' (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) in Europe revealed by morphometrics and molecular analyses |journal=ZooKeys |issue=400 |pages=67–118 |doi= 10.3897/zookeys.400.6611 |pmid=24843256 |pmc=4023243 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2014ZooK..400...67N }}</ref>

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}}

==Further reading== *{{cite book |title=The Natural History and Evolution of Paper-Wasps |first1=Stefano |last1=Turillazzi |first2=Mary Jane |last2=West-Eberhard |author-link2=Mary Jane West-Eberhard |date=1996 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-854947-5}} *{{cite journal |title=Nest building in a social wasp: postures and constraints (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)|first1=I. |last1=Karsai |first2=G. |last2=Theraulaz |journal=Sociobiology |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=83–114 |date=1995}} *{{cite journal |title=Intra-specific variation in the comb structure of ''Polistes dominulus'': parameters, maturation, nest size and cell arrangement |first1=I. |last1=Karsai |first2=Z. |last2=Penzes |journal=Insectes Sociaux |volume=43 |pages=277–296 |date=1996 |doi=10.1007/BF01242929 |issue=3|s2cid=24171685 }}

==External links== *[http://www.cirrusimage.com/Bees_wasp_polistes.htm Paper wasp ''Polistes dominula'' reference photographs, descriptions, taxonomy] *[http://www.cirrusimage.com/Bees_wasp_Polistes_fuscatus.htm Paper wasp ''Polistes fuscatus'' diagnostic photographs, natural history] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027122434/http://geocities.com/quelea/waspinfo.html ''Polistes dominula'' facial markings indicating dominance]

Category:Polistes Category:Insects used as insect pest control agents Category:Hymenoptera genera Category:Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille