Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus)

Additional Wasp Information Paper Wasps Wasps Types of Bees

Contrary to the name, the Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) can be found throughout much of the Eastern United States, including southern areas such as Florida and Texas.

The color and pattern on the body tend to differ according to geographic location, making them one of the more difficult Polistes species to identify.

Northern species typically have black bodies with yellow markings. Southern species typically have rusty bodies, without yellow patterns.

Identification of the species in the top picture as a Southern version of the Northern Paper wasp is tentative.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels