Polistes metricus
Species of wasp / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Polistes metricus (metric paper wasp or metricus paper wasp) is a wasp native to North America. In the United States, it ranges throughout the southern Midwest, the South, and as far northeast as New York, but has recently been spotted in southwest Ontario. A single female specimen has also been reported from Dryden, Maine.[1] Polistes metricus is dark colored, with yellow tarsi and black tibia.[2] Nests of Polistes metricus can be found attached to the sides of buildings, trees, and shrubbery.[3]
Metric paper wasp | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Vespidae |
Subfamily: | Polistinae |
Tribe: | Polistini |
Genus: | Polistes |
Species: | P. metricus |
Binomial name | |
Polistes metricus Say, 1831 | |
Like other Polistes species, P. metricus, has evolved eusociality and demonstrates behaviors including nestmate discrimination and local mate competition.[4] Like the other members of the order Hymenoptera, Polistes metricus has a haplodiploid genetic system.[5] Nests of P. metricus have distinct characteristics like the ability to share nests with other Polistes species and reuse nests multiple seasons.[6] Another distinction is that Polistes metricus foragers take off from their nests depending on how long their trip will be. For short flights, they exit the nest flying horizontally, while for long flights, they exit the nest flying straight up into a high altitude before pursuing their direction.
P. metricus prefers to use soft-bodied prey, especially caterpillars, to feed their larvae.[7]