Red Paper Wasp Florida
All have orange red bodies and jet black wings.
Red paper wasp florida. They lazily fly at low levels occasionally landing on people pets and objects before flying off again sometimes without being noticed. Lists are presented of 79 species of florida insects mostly wasps that have distinctive dark red markings on a black background. However while paper wasps may need to be managed from time to time they are considered beneficial and good to have around from a safe distance that is. Red wasps are given their name due to the reddish brown color of its body and head.
Red wasps are found primarily in the southern u s. The genus polistes belongs to the subfamily polistinae whose members are known as the paper wasps because of the papery. Paper wasps like many wasps are social and their nests are made of a mixture of bits of wood and paper and wasp saliva. According to texas a amp m 039 s department of entomology only female red wasps can hurt you as male wasps lack a stinger.
Red wasps have some of the largest nests among paper wasps. Vespidae introduction distribution identification biology economic importance management selected references introduction back to top. Growing to the size of dinner plates these nests become quite noticeable hanging from and near houses and other manmade structures. They have also been found in bermuda and canada where they are considered non native.
A red wasp is a type of paper wasp and they tend to make umbrella shaped nests and they tend to hang from things like branches trees and other structures. There are a number of different paper wasp species under the genus polistes and we have several. Polistes carolina l insecta. Paper wasp red wasp suggested common names scientific name.
These nests appear to be made of paper and feature one or more honeycomb shaped openings. The florida climate is conducive to having wasps around almost year round. From texas to florida and as far north as kansas illinois even new york. A red wasp is considered more of a nuisance pest than a dangerous one but they.
One of two types of red paper wasp polistes carolina is a species of social wasp subfamily polistinae in the family vespidae they are native to the united states from texas to florida north to new york and west to nebraska. But all paper wasp species in our area by their very name make their nests out of paper. The introduction to florida wasps starts with the wasp species considered primary pests paper wasps hornets and yellowjackets. So it s difficult to get by any day without seeing at least one wasp species.
They have long blackish purple wings and a brown stripe on their abdomen. Florida is home mainly to two types of wasps the cicada killer and the paper wasp. The name red paper wasp is represented by a couple of species in this genus.
