Kaibab Paper Wasp
Polistes kaibabensis
This record describes Polistes kaibabensis (species). Recorded family: Vespidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinctive: a brown wasp with contrastingly coloured antennae and yellow on abdominal segments 3 or 4 to 6.
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
Geographic Range
Arizona (Grand Canyon) and southern Utah
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Polistes kaibabensis. 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 Kaibab Paper Wasp (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Matthias Buck; Additional contributions by PaleoJon
Frequently Asked Questions About Kaibab Paper Wasp
What is Kaibab Paper Wasp?
Kaibab Paper Wasp (Polistes kaibabensis) is a species in the family Vespidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Kaibab Paper Wasp?
Distinctive: a brown wasp with contrastingly coloured antennae and yellow on abdominal segments 3 or 4 to 6.
Where is Kaibab Paper Wasp found?
Range: Arizona (Grand Canyon) and southern Utah