Independent-founding
Guides
Polistes carolina
Fine-backed Red Paper Wasp, Red Paper Wasp, Paper Wasp
Polistes carolina is a social paper wasp native to the eastern United States, distinguished by its reddish-brown coloration and finer propodeal ridges compared to its congener P. rubiginosus. The species constructs large, exposed, umbrella-shaped paper nests and exhibits independent founding behavior with multiple foundresses establishing dominance hierarchies through behavioral conventions rather than size alone. It is an important predator of caterpillars and other insects, contributing to natural pest control in its range.