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Mischocyttarus mexicanus
Paper Wasp (Mischocyttarus mexicanus) belongs to the family Vespidae and subfamily Polistinae, a immense subfamily of Hymenoptera Apócritos over 1,100 tropical and subtropical species, of which only 9 species of the genus Polistes all live in Europe and 22 in North America. They are called paper wasps because make their nests on small pieces of wood or plant fibers that blend perfectly with your spittle, which gives the impression of being made of paper. For its size, which can be an inch long, paper wasps are considered dangerous, even though their bite is not poisonous itself is very painful and can cause allergic reactions in susceptible people.
Antennal coloration is much more akin to Polistes instabilis, and M. mexicanus of Mexico should have brown legs. Abdominal structure is not visible but is readily diagnostic to genus.
Spotted on Aug 16, 2008
Submitted on Oct 4, 2014
