Stats

Lifespan

Annual

Size

Medium

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Colony

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Venom

Status

Common

About

This dark wasp builds papery nests on trees and buildings across North America. It recognizes individual nestmates by the unique patterns of yellow markings on their faces.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Vespidae

Genus

Polistes

Species

Polistes metricus