Paper Wasp

 Identification and Control

Proper identification is an important first step in controlling ants.

Polistes spp.

How to Identify an 

Paper Wasp

Paper wasps range in color from reddish-brown to darker shades of brown or black featuring yellow markings. They have sleek, elongated bodies and long legs that dangle beneath them when in flight.

Where do they come from?

Paper wasps are a diverse group found worldwide, with numerous species native to different regions, including North America, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. While they thrive in temperate climates, they can adapt to subtropical and tropical environments. In Washington State, the European paper wasp is the most common species.

How to keep them out

To prevent paper wasp infestations, remove their food sources and make potential nesting spots less attractive. Clean outdoor dining areas regularly and keep your garbage cans tightly sealed. For help managing paper wasps, reach out to a professional pest control company like Zunex for expert assistance.

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What do they look like?

Paper wasps craft unique nests from a blend of chewed wood fibers and saliva. These nests have exposed cells filled with eggs and newly hatched offspring. As the colony expands, worker wasps add new cells to accommodate the growing population.
Paper wasps are social insects that live in colonies consisting of a queen, workers, and sometimes male drones.
Paper wasps are highly defensive and will sting repeatedly if they feel threatened or their nest is disturbed.
Like other members of the Hymenoptera order, paper wasps have thin, flexible, membranous wings that allow for flight and precise movement.

Where do they live?

Paper wasps create open, umbrella-shaped nests featuring exposed cells for egg-laying and larval development. These nests are commonly found in sheltered locations, like under eaves, within trees, bushes, or shrubs, and occasionally inside manufactured structures like attics, sheds, or garages.

Name:

Polistes spp.

Size:

Diet:

Plants have a plant-based and also protein-rich diet; they prefer feast on nectar and other sweet substances they can find around your property. Paper wasps are predatory insects, hunting for caterpillars, flies, and spiders, to feed themselves and their larvae.

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