ONH

European Paper Wasp

Polistes dominulus

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    1 - European Paper Wasp, Polistes dominulus.

    04/16/2007 Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

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    2 - European Paper Wasp. Note two-colored antennae with brownish-orange end.

    04/16/2007 Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

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    3 - European Paper Wasp.

    09/04/2006 Port Angeles, Washington

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    4 - European Paper Wasp guarding a typical paper nest.

    07/23/2006 Port Angeles, Washington

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    5 - European Paper Wasp.

    07/08/2007 Marrowstone Island, Washington

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    6 - European Paper Wasp building a nest very near an older nest.

    05/09/2009 Port Williams County Park, Sequim, Washington

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    7 - European Paper Wasp nest with larvae of various stages.

    07/22/2006 Port Angeles, Washington

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    8 - European Paper Wasps show variation in the facial markings that appear to signal mating quality.

    Images from four locations in the north Olympic Peninsula.

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9 - A European Paper Wasp tends a nest. Note that she fans the nest around the middle of the video.

European Paper Wasp Polistes dominulus

The European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominulus aka dominula), a common North American speices, was introduced from Europe. It is our only paper wasp with two-colored, brownish-orange antennae. These wasps are about 1.5 cm long.

Wasps in the family Vespidae normally fold their forewings longitudinally at rest (1, 3). Image 2 shows an unfolded wing, with the veination visible.

Polistes dominulus shows variation in the facial markings (slide 8). These markings appear to signal mating quality. See A socially enforced signal of quality in a paper wasp. Other wasp species are also known to have variable facial markings with social significance.