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Project Noah Nature School
Polistes wattii
Found drinking water at the bird bath.
Antennae are yellow. Large compound darker yellow eyes. Characteristic three black spots on the head, wings are clear with a yellow color. Reaches up to 25mm in size.
On warm days will congregate around water, both to quench their thirst and carry water supplies back to the larvae at the nest. Nest contains no fewer than two dozen cells. Mostly constructed between rocks or in cracks and under bark of trees or on walls around urban areas.
Help me confirm the ID if possible as I am not sure- Is it Polistes olivaceus or Polistes Wattii ...?
Common in the area. Find them nesting on tree branches and occasionally on walls. They drink water throughout the day during the hot and humid days. I have a spotting of the nest at : http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/374...
Spotted on Sep 15, 2013
Submitted on Sep 15, 2013
6 Comments
Thanks, MarcoSelis!
Yes, this is Polistes wattii.
Got more info: http://www.essortment.com/paper-wasps-11...
There is a strategy for sure!
Probably it also helps cooling the otherwise overheated nest: most of them are located under roof tiles and other potentially very hot situations. As a proof, one can see that paper wasps are seeking water only by sunny days. When given the choice, they prefer still waters. I find them drinking from the leaves after a short rain shower or the garden plants. I always find them at the bird baths in the yard. Also heard that they can be seen at rivers banks, but only where water does not run too fast.
do they regurgitate the water while feeding the larva?