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Guinea Paper Wasp

Polistes exclamans

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Guinea Paper Wasp (Polistes exclamans)

The Guinea Paper Wasp is a slender, elongated paper wasp with yellow-and-brown banding and dangling legs in flight. It builds open, umbrella-shaped paper combs under eaves, in shrubs, and on garden structures. Workers are effective predators of caterpillars, which they chew up and feed to larvae. They will sting if the nest is directly threatened but are generally tolerant.

Habitat
Gardens, suburban areas, and open woodlands
Diet
Larvae: caterpillars and soft insects. Adults: nectar
How common
Common

Best time to see a Guinea Paper Wasp

The best time to see a Guinea Paper Wasp is April–August, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 27,218 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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