Paper Wasp, Mischocyttarus spp.

• Common Name: Paper Wasp
• Order Name: Hymenoptera
• Family Name: Vespidae

This Order of insects include sawflies, horntails, wood wasps, ensign wasps, Ichneumonids, fairyflies, fig wasps, chalcids, gall wasps, cuckoo wasps, yellow-faced bees, sweat bees, leafcutter bees, carpenter bees, honey bees, bumble bees, orchid bees, velvet ants, spider wasps, paper wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, mud-dauber wasps and ants.

These paper wasps from Indonesia are capable of delivering a painful sting in defense of their paper-chewed nests. Unlike some bees which generally lose their life after delivering their sting, wasps have a barbless stinger they can use on multiple occasion. A stinger is a retractable, modified egg-laying devise known as an ovipositor. Wasp larvae are fed prechewed caterpillars by adult wasps who receive a drop of saliva in return. Their wings are folded lengthwise over body at rest as they assume a threatening alertness to all nearby activities including insect photography. These wasps exhibit presocial cooperation between groups of fertile females. Their nests are open nest with clearly exposed larval chambers.

Paper Wasp, Mischocyttarus spp. Photos & Pictures