Antimicrobial-venom
Guides
Polistes dorsalis
Hunter's Little Paper Wasp
Polistes dorsalis is a small social paper wasp native to North America, distinguished by V-shaped yellow markings on the head and, in males, a prominent median tubercle on sternum 7. The species constructs small, open-faced paper nests in sheltered locations close to the ground, such as rock piles, hollow logs, and building eaves. Colonies are founded by one or several females in spring, with a dominance hierarchy establishing a single reproductive queen. The species is known for moderately painful stings and has attracted pharmacological interest due to antimicrobial peptides in its venom.