European Paper Wasp Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791)Non-native    Synonyms: Dominulus Paper Wasp, Polistes dominulus.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Hymenoptera   >   Family Vespidae   >   Genus Polistes   

Status:

Eurasian species introduced to the U.S. that is rapidly expanding its range on the East Coast. BugGuide cites reports of it replacing native wasp species in some areas.

Description:

Resembles a yellowjacket. No other member of family has mostly orange antennae.

There are 64 records in the project database.

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A European Paper Wasp in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/4/2014). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp nest in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/17/2011). Photo by David Illig. (MBP list)

A female European Paper Wasp in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/15/2014). Photo by Jesse Christopherson. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/7/2019). Verified by Bob Biagi/BugGuide. Photo by Wendy R. Fredericks. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp in Baltimore City, Maryland (3/28/2007). Determined by Matthias Buck/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/6/2013). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/8/2020). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/5/2014). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by John Dennehy. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/14/2020). (c) Allegra Marcell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by moonchild_161 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/8/2023). No rights reserved. Photo by Andy Wilson via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/30/2016). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/24/2017). Determined by Brandon Woo/BugGuide. Photo by Kirsten Johnson. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Cecil Co., Maryland (8/2/2023). (c) James D Barry (Delaware), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jamesbarry007 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/7/2019). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasps in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/17/2011). Photo by David Illig. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Montgomery Co., Maryland (10/7/2020). (c) Jane Hartman, all rights reserved. Photo by Jane Hartman. (MBP list)

European Paper Wasp in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/29/2019). (c) grossmansofia, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by grossmansofia via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp in Harford Co., Maryland (7/18/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A European Paper Wasp in Baltimore City, Maryland (9/23/2017). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)


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