Queen of the paper wasp (Polistes nipponensis) in the family Vespidae, laying eggs in the nest underneath a reed leaf (Phragmites australis). The nest consisted of 6 cells which were +4 increase since 4 days ago. Early-June 2008 in Japan.
cool! that seems like a very unstable place for a nest. here in the US i have never seen a polistes nest in a natural place. they are always on buildings or such
i have read that it depends on the species where to build the nest.
this species (Polistes nipponensis = P. mandarinus) like plants as high as 1-2m above the ground as their nesting sites.
the info backed up my personal observations (6 nests) in the field.
on the other hand, queens of the yellow one (P. rothneyi iwatai) often chose our buildings as shelter, such as under the eaves.
sigma1920 3 years ago
cool! that seems like a very unstable place for a nest. here in the US i have never seen a polistes nest in a natural place. they are always on buildings or such
maculifrons 3 years ago