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Nothern Paper Wasp
Polistes Fuscatus
26.2425, -80.2141
Field Notes
Description:
Paper wasps are 0.7 to 1.0 inch long wasps that gather fibers from dead wood and plant stems, which they mix with saliva, and use to construct water-resistant nests made of gray or brown papery material. Paper wasps are also sometimes called umbrella wasps, due to the distinctive design of their nests.
Habitat:
The very social Northern Paper Wasp will make a nest in unexpected places. I found this nest in the Sapodilla tree in my backyard, too close to my Passiflora Suberosa vine that is hosting Zebra Heliconian and Gulf Fritillary caterpilars.
Notes:
I am going to get rid of them since I found out they feed on Zebra Heliconian and Gulf Fritillary Caterpillars. Any ideas on how to do it? I absolutely do not want to be stinged. Since their territoriality can lead to attacks on people, and because their stings are quite painful and can produce a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction in some individuals, nests in human-inhabited areas may present an unacceptable hazard.
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