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Polistes dorsalis

picture of a polistes dorsalis, paper wasp

Polistes dorsalis, a small paper wasp, resembles other red bodied paper wasps.

Along with size, the dark bands on the top of the legs serve as good field identification clues.

Its range extends from coast to coast along the southern half of the United States. In the East, its range extends as far north as Pennsylvania.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels