The red wasp, scientifically known as Polistes carolina, is a common species of social paper wasp native to North America. This insect belongs to the family Vespidae and is known for its relatively large size and distinctive rusty coloration. Its presence is especially noted across the eastern and south-central United States. Here, it builds characteristic paper nests in areas that frequently bring it into contact with people.
Physical Traits and Identification
The red wasp is a large insect, with adult females typically measuring up to one inch (25 mm) in length. Their body is slender, featuring the characteristic narrow “waist” that separates the thorax from the abdomen, a defining trait of all paper wasps. The overall color is a uniform reddish-brown, or ferruginous, which gives the species its common name and distinguishes it from the black and yellow markings of yellow jackets or hornets.
The wings of P. carolina are typically a dark, purplish-black color, which provides a strong visual contrast against the rust-colored body. Females are usually more completely rust-colored, while males can exhibit a smaller size and sometimes have more distinct yellow markings on their faces. Identification can be challenging because a similar species, Polistes rubiginosus, shares a nearly identical reddish-brown coloring.
Geographic Range and Nesting Habits
This species is most commonly associated with the Southeastern United States, with a range that extends from Florida up to New York and west through Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska. This broad distribution means the red wasp is a familiar sight across a large portion of the continent, particularly in woodlands and areas near human habitation.
As a paper wasp, P. carolina constructs an umbrella-shaped nest made of a papery material that results from chewing wood fibers and mixing them with saliva. These nests are characterized by exposed, open hexagonal cells and are attached to a sheltered surface by a single stalk or pedicel. Common nesting locations that place them near humans include under the eaves of houses, inside sheds, beneath bridges, or within the hollows of trees.
Sting Severity and Aggression
Like all female wasps, the red wasp possesses a stinger and can sting repeatedly without losing the apparatus. The sting is generally reported to be painful, injecting a venom that causes immediate pain, swelling, and redness at the site. While the pain level is significant, it is typically less severe than that of larger insects like the true hornets.
The aggression level of P. carolina is highly situational; they are generally non-aggressive when foraging for food and will usually only sting if they feel cornered or threatened. However, they become intensely defensive if their nest is disturbed or threatened, with multiple wasps swarming to defend the colony. Disturbing a nest increases the likelihood of multiple stings and the risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in susceptible individuals.
Ecological Role
Despite the safety concerns surrounding its nest defense, the red wasp fulfills a beneficial role in the ecosystem as both a predator and a pollinator. As predators, adult wasps hunt and capture a variety of soft-bodied insects, including caterpillars and beetle larvae, which are often considered agricultural and garden pests. The adults chew this prey into a paste to feed their developing larvae, providing a natural form of pest control. The adult wasps feed on plant nectar and tree sap, and in the process, they inadvertently transfer pollen, contributing to the pollination of various plants and crops.