Common Paper Wasp Polistes exclamans Viereck, 1906    Synonyms: Guinea Wasp.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Hymenoptera   >   Family Vespidae   >   Genus Polistes   

Status:

This is a species of the southeastern U.S. that appears to be expanding northward.

Description:

Compare other members of its genus.

Where to find:

Check under the eaves of houses and other man-made structures.

Relationships:

Frequently prey to birds.

There are 151 records in the project database.

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A Common Paper Wasp in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/5/2014). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

A Paper Wasp (Polistes exclamans) on nest with eggs, larvae, and pupae on Assateague Island, Maryland (6/12/2007). Note dark antennae with orange tips. Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasps in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/16/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasps in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/25/2015). Photo by John Dennehy. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/10/2014). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in Baltimore City, Maryland (6/6/2007). Determined by Ethan Kistler/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasps on nest in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/13/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasp in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/11/2014). Photo by David Illig. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/1/2016). Determined by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (9/30/2018). Verified by Scott Nacko/BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasps in Carroll Co., Maryland (5/3/2020). Photo by Barbara Speckart. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasp in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (5/17/2019). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasps in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/5/2017). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Close up of the head of a Common Paper Wasp in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/18/2013). Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/30/2014). Determined by Steve Scholnick, John S. Ascher, and Scott Nacko via BugGuide. Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in Wicomico Co., Maryland (8/29/2015). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in Harford Co., Maryland (7/4/2021). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Richard Crook. (MBP list)

A Common Paper Wasp in Harford Co., Maryland (7/30/2014). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasps in Anne Arundel, Maryland (8/2/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A female Common Paper Wasp in Howard Co., Maryland (8/1/2014). Confirmed by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasp in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/5/2012). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasp in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/27/2019). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A female Common Paper Wasp in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/10/2016). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

Common Paper Wasps building a nest in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (10/6/2017). Photo by Lynn Strauss. (MBP list)


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