Paper-wasps
Guides
Brachygastra
Honey Wasps, Mexican Honey Wasps
Brachygastra is a genus of 17 species of social paper wasps in the family Vespidae, commonly known as honey wasps. The genus is notable for being one of the few non-bee insects that produce and store honey in substantial quantities. Species are distributed throughout Central and South America, with one species (B. mellifica) extending into the southwestern United States. The genus exhibits pronounced morphological caste differentiation, with queens typically larger than workers. Nests are arboreal, constructed from chewed plant fibers, and can persist for multiple years in tropical climates.
Mischocyttarus
Long-waisted Paper Wasps
Mischocyttarus is the largest genus of social wasps, containing over 260 species primarily distributed in the Neotropics. It is the sole member of the tribe Mischocyttarini, distinguished from related tribes by asymmetrical tarsal lobes. These wasps construct simple, single-comb paper nests and exhibit greater social and reproductive flexibility than the related genus Polistes. A few species extend into the Nearctic region, including three in the United States and southwest Canada.
Polistes
Umbrella Paper Wasps, Umbrella Wasps, Paper Wasps
Polistes is a cosmopolitan genus of social paper wasps and the sole genus in the tribe Polistini. With over 200 recognized species, it is the largest genus in the family Vespidae. These wasps construct distinctive open, single-layered umbrella-shaped nests from wood fibers mixed with saliva, typically suspended by a narrow stalk from protected surfaces. They exhibit complex social behavior including dominance hierarchies, kin recognition through learned chemical cues, and cooperative colony founding. While generally less aggressive than yellowjackets, they will defend nests when provoked.