Polistes dominula BIO 203
The
Wasp Queen
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s a Polistes dominula wasp that just stung me! Oops, I definitely should have been watching where I was reaching. There was a nest deep within that wall that was in the process of being torn down. How did I know that this random wasp was P. dominula? As it flew away I noticed its hind legs hanging below the abdomen (Colorado State University Extension 2011), it was black in color with yellow markings on its head, abdomen, and face (Animal Diversity Website 2013), and when it finally landed its wings were folded laterally along the body (Bartlett 2004).
The P. dominula wasp is an invasive species to North America and has an
explosive reproduction rate that has made it a great competitor to the
native North American species P. fructus. Many factors have allowed for
its new found dominance
in North America including an earlier emergence
than other species of Polistes and the ability to eat a larger variety
of prey (Dani et al. 1996). P. dominula is also very successful due to
the high level of eusocialism that exists within the nest. Eusocialism
makes for highly organized communication and clear levels of hierarchy
through dominance (Encyclopedia of Life 2011).
Please sit back and relax as you join us on a journey to learn much more about this fascinating organism! Lets start with all of the identifying characterists of P. dominula that Johann Ludwig Christ had to recognize to note it as a new species on our Classification page.
There are many other eusocial organisms like P. dominula. Please feel free to learn about Xylocopa virginica, Melipona beecheii, and Xylocopa varipuncta.
To learn about a plethora of different organisms please visit MultipleOrganisms.net!