Polistes versicolor
| Yellow Paper Wasp | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Clade: | Euarthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Polistinae |
| Tribe: | Polistini |
| Genus: | Polistes |
| Species: | P. versicolor |
| Binomial name | |
|
Polistes versicolor (Olivier, 1791) |
|
| Synonyms | |
Polistes versicolor is a subtropical social wasp within Polistes, the most common genus of the paper wasp. The most widely distributed South American wasp species, Polistes versicolor is particularly common in the Southeastern Brazilian states. This social wasp is commonly referred to as the yellow paper wasp due to the distinct yellow bands found on its thorax and abdomen. The Polistes versicolor nest is often described as a single, uncovered comb attached to the substratum by a single petiole. The yellow wasp is frequently found in urban areas. Its nests, made of chewed vegetable fiber, are often described as a single, uncovered comb attached to the substratum by a single petiole. These new nests and colonies are usually founded by an association of females, sometimes in human constructions. The Polistes versicolor colony cycle broadly ranges from 3 to 10 months although there appears to be no relationship between the colony's development and the season of the year. While the yellow paper wasps do have clear annual colony cycles, many young queens have the opportunity to hibernate during the winter, forming optional winter aggregations. Dominance hierarchies within these aggregations are characterized by physical aggression of the dominant female(s) towards the associated females who tend to be sisters. Within the colony, outside of aggressive behaviors, wagging movements are also often used as a form of communication within the colony. The yellow paper wasp is generally a predatory wasp, capturing a wide range of insects, although it often feeds on pollen and honey as well. Therefore, the Polistes versicolor can be useful as a pollinator or as effective pest control.
The French entomologist Guillaume-Antoine Olivier described the yellow paper wasp in 1791. Its species name, versicolor, is a Latin term that means a variety of colors, perhaps referring to the bright coloration of its abdomen and thorax. Within the Polistinae subfamily of the Vespidae family, the Polistes genus (paper wasps) has about 200 species distributed throughout the world mostly in the tropical region. A widely studied genus, the Polistes genus is now considered key to understanding the evolution of social behavior among wasps and other invertebrates. The yellow paper wasp is a member of the New World Polistes, which are found in the subgenus Aphanilopterus. As morphological variation among the Aphanilopterus is small, Polistes versicolor shares many similarities with its Aphanilopterus relatives, especially Polistes instabilis . Both species are found to form facultative winter aggregations in high altitudes. Ecologically, the yellow paper wasp lives in conditions similar to those of other temperate zone species, such as Polistes fascatus (a derivate Fuscopolistes) and Polistes canadensis (also in the Aphanilopterus subgenus). While the seasonal conditions are not drastic in terms of temperature, these species do share a pronounced dry season.
...
Wikipedia