Unstable Paper Wasp
Polistes instabilis
Spanish: Avispa guitarrilla

Polistes instabilis, a type of paper wasp, is a neotropical, eusocial wasp (family Vespidae) that can be found in tropical and subtropical areas such as Central America and South America. It can be easily identified with its characteristic yellow, brown, and reddish markings, and it builds nests made from chewing plant fibers and making them into paper.
- 2026-07-09 — observation by daniel_brito
- 2026-01-02 — observation by daniel_brito
- 2025-11-17 — observation by zihuadean
- 2025-11-03 — observation by mmarya
- 2025-08-24 — observation by antonio_perez2
- 2025-08-22 — observation by javiperezsoza
Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Insects guide iNaturalist Wikipedia
Cite as: “Unstable Paper Wasp (Polistes instabilis) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/polistes-instabilis/, 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.