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Paper Wasp drinking water

Polistes wattii

Photo by surekha
Published on Project Noah
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28.0983, 77.0394

Field Notes

Description:

Found drinking water at the bird bath.
Antennae are yellow. Large compound darker yellow eyes. Characteristic three black spots on the head, wings are clear with a yellow color. Reaches up to 25mm in size. <br>
On warm days will congregate around water, both to quench their thirst and carry water supplies back to the larvae at the nest. Nest contains no fewer than two dozen cells. Mostly constructed between rocks or in cracks and under bark of trees or on walls around urban areas. <br><br>
Help me confirm the ID if possible as I am not sure- Is it Polistes olivaceus or Polistes Wattii ...?

Notes:

Common in the area. Find them nesting on tree branches and occasionally on walls. They drink water throughout the day during the hot and humid days.
I have a spotting of the nest at : http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/37435136

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
surekha
Got more info: http://www.essortment.com/paper-wasps-11189.html
HemaShah
There is a strategy for sure!
surekha
Probably it also helps cooling the otherwise overheated nest: most of them are located under roof tiles and other potentially very hot situations. As a proof, one can see that paper wasps are seeking water only by sunny days. When given the choice, they prefer still waters. I find them drinking from the leaves after a short rain shower or the garden plants. I always find them at the bird baths in the yard. Also heard that they can be seen at rivers banks, but only where water does not run too fast.
HemaShah
do they regurgitate the water while feeding the larva?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Pollinating Insects of the World
Mission
Nature in Yellow
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project

Tags

Photographed
PublishedSeptember 15, 2013

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