Polistes bellicosus
This record describes Polistes bellicosus (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Variation: Individuals with spotted tergum 2 (and sometimes following) are fairly common at the western edge of the range in central and southcentral Texas. ( 3 ) Their range apparently does not overlap with red forms of aurifer but they do with texanus . However, there appears to be no texanus in southern Texas. ( 4 ) - Matthias Buck
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Vespoidea
- Family
- Vespidae
- Subfamily
- Polistinae
- Genus
- Polistes (Umbrella Paper Wasps)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Primarily coastal
Geographic Range
NY south to FL, west to TX
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Polistes bellicosus Cresson, 1872
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Polistes bellicosus. 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 Polistes bellicosus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Sean McCann; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Matthias Buck , Chuck Entz , v belov , PaleoJon , bdagley
Frequently Asked Questions About Polistes bellicosus
What is Polistes bellicosus?
Polistes bellicosus is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Polistes bellicosus?
Variation: Individuals with spotted tergum 2 (and sometimes following) are fairly common at the western edge of the range in central and southcentral Texas. ( 3 ) Their range apparently does not overlap with red forms of aurifer but they do with texanus . However, there appears to be no texanus in southern Texas. ( 4 ) - Matthias Buck
Where is Polistes bellicosus found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Primarily coastal |
| Range | NY south to FL, west to TX |