European paper wasp

The European paper wasp (Polistes dominula often misspelled as dominulus) is one of the more common and well-known species of social wasps in Europe. Polistes dominula is often referred to as the European Paper Wasp because of its native distribution and its nests, which are constructed from paper and saliva. Its diet is more versatile than that of most Polistes species, consisting of many genera of insects. The dominant females (queens) are the principal egg layers, while the subordinate females (auxiliaries) primarily forage and do not lay eggs. This hierarchy is not permanent; when the queen is removed from the nest, the second-most dominant female assumes the role of the queen. Dominance in females is indicated in the coloration of the clypeus (face), whereas dominance in males is shown in the coloration of the abdomen. Polistes dominula wasps have a lek-based mating system. Unlike most social insects, 35% of Polistes dominula wasps in a colony are unrelated. It is considered an invasive species in Canada and the United States.