Paper Wasp

Paper wasps' size can range between 3/4–1 inch in length. Polistes' bodies are slender and narrow waisted. Most P. exclamans have a yellow spot on the lower mesopleuron. Most metasomal segments have yellow apical fasciae and the propodeum has four yellow stripes. They have smoky black that are folded lengthwise when the wasp is at rest. Polistes exclamans is generally brown and has yellow markings on its head, thorax and abdomen. Polistes exclamans have antennae banded with red, black and yellow while most paper wasps only have one antennae color. In females the fore wing length can range from 13.0-16.5mm and in males the fore wings can range from 12.0-15.0mm. The extent of ferruginous markings is variable.