THE INSECTLIBRARY FIELD GUIDES
Red WaspIdentification, facts & practical guidance
Red wasp is a regional name. Here it refers to reddish paper wasps, particularly Polistes carolina and Polistes rubiginosus in the United States.
Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated · Editorial policy
Identification and lookalikes
Paper wasps have a narrow waist and build open-comb paper nests. Reddish color alone does not separate the two species or identify every wasp called a red wasp.
Paper wasp colonies
Adults gather food for developing larvae and use sheltered sites for nests. Workers can sting in defense. A European hornet has a different body form and is not a substitute identification.
What to do next
Photograph from a distance, including the nest shape when visible. Keep children away from an occupied nest within reach. For a nest in a busy area, seek local professional advice.
Red Wasp: species profiles
Explore 2 species profiles covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.
Sources and further reading
- mdc.mo.gov - paper waspshttps://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/paper-wasps
- ask.ifas.ufl.edu - IN1112https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1112
References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.