Insects · La Saladita, Guerrero

Neotropical Red Paper Wasp

Polistes canadensis

Spanish: Avispa papelera colorada

Neotropical Red Paper Wasp (Polistes canadensis)
Photographed by zihuadean on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

Polistes canadensis, commonly known as the red paper wasp, is a Neotropical, primitively eusocial wasp. A largely predatory species, it hunts for caterpillar meat to supply its colony, often supplementing its developing larvae with nectar. The most widely distributed American species of the genus Polistes, it colonises multiple combs, which it rears year-round. Emerging from hibernation in the spring, the females found nests built out of plant material such as dry grass and dead wood. These

TaxonomyInsecta › Hymenoptera › Vespidae
Local records12 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records2,785 on iNaturalist
Most recent records2023 – 2026
Months of the 8 most recent records
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Insects guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Neotropical Red Paper Wasp (Polistes canadensis) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/polistes-canadensis/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.