Paper wasp; Avispa cartonera

Description:

Very similar to Polistes dominula. P. nimpha is a social wasp of Europe. Queens reach 16 mm long, workers 14 mm and males 15 mm. Queens and workers have a black band on the antennae and another one at the lower part of the eye. It has a black body with yellow stains. The abdomen is long with a very narrow waist. Although it is often mistaken for a yellow jacket, it is easy to identify by the orange antennae. At the end of the abdomen it has a sting with very toxic venom but it shows very low aggressivity. It is a eusocial wasp. The nests are constructed of paper fabricated from cellulose from tree bark. They prey on other insects to feed their larvae but adults feed on nectar and pollen.

Habitat:

Spotted on sand dunes at the beach

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/000 sec.; f/10; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm.