Western Paper Wasp
Mischocyttarus flavitarsis
This record describes Mischocyttarus flavitarsis (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
A primarily black-and-yellow species with additional ferruginous markings. This species can be separated from the similar M. navajo by the typically lighter yellow brown wings (in all but one form), occasionally ferruginous T1 (especially in 2 forms), and smaller size. The markings are highly variable with geography and were formerly represented as 4 subspecies within our area but were found by Snelling to intergrade too much to represent true subspecies. central (s. UT & CO, east to TX), formerly M. f. centralis : wings yellow-brown, T1 ferruginous western (CA north and east to OR & NE), formerly M. f. flavitarsis : wings yellow-brown, T1 typically black, T2 beyond almost entirely yellow northwestern (OR & UT, north to AB & BC), formerly M. f. idahoensis : wings yellow-brown, T1 typically black, yellow abdominal markings restricted to discrete bands iNaturalist photo Grand Canyon (AZ), formerly M. f. kaibabensis : dark wings (like M. Navajo ), body almost entirely ferruginous
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Polistinae
- Genus
- Mischocyttarus (Long-waisted Paper Wasps)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
western (Canada: AB, BC; United States: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NB, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA); Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora); introduced to Hawaii
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Mischocyttarus (Phi) flavitarsis (Saussure, 1854)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Mischocyttarus flavitarsis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Western Paper Wasp (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by v belov , Andy - CritterZone , PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Paper Wasp
What is Western Paper Wasp?
Western Paper Wasp (Mischocyttarus flavitarsis) is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Western Paper Wasp?
Head width 3.08 - 3.95 mm
How do you identify Western Paper Wasp?
A primarily black-and-yellow species with additional ferruginous markings. This species can be separated from the similar M. navajo by the typically lighter yellow brown wings (in all but one form), occasionally ferruginous T1 (especially in 2 forms), and smaller size. The markings are highly variable with geography and were formerly represented as 4 subspecies within our area but were found by Snelling to intergrade too much to represent true subspecies. central (s. UT & CO, east to TX), formerly M. f. centralis : wings yellow-brown, T1 ferruginous western (CA north and east to OR & NE), formerly M. f. flavitarsis : wings yellow-brown, T1 typically black, T2 beyond almost entirely yellow northwestern (OR & UT, north to AB & BC), formerly M. f. idahoensis : wings yellow-brown, T1 typically black, yellow abdominal markings restricted to discrete bands iNaturalist photo Grand Canyon (AZ), formerly M. f. kaibabensis : dark wings (like M. Navajo ), body almost entirely ferruginous
Where is Western Paper Wasp found?
Range: western (Canada: AB, BC; United States: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NB, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA); Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora); introduced to Hawaii