Northern Paper Wasp

Polistes fuscatus, whose common name is the dark or northern paper wasp, is widely found in eastern North America, from southern Canada through the southern United States. It often nests around human development. However, it greatly prefers areas in which wood is readily available for use as nest material, therefore they are also found near and in woodlands and savannas. P. fuscatus is a social wasp that is part of a complex society based around a single dominant foundress along with other cofoundresses and a dominance hierarchy. Scientific Name: Polistes fuscatus Range: Eastern & central North America Size: 18–20 mm Status: Common ID Notes: Brown with yellow markings. Long legs that dangle in flight. Builds open umbrella-shaped paper nests under eaves. Behavior / Notes: Can recognize individual faces of nestmates — rare cognitive ability for an insect. Calm unless nest threatened.