Official name
Synonyms
Polistes dominula [Soortenregister],[Dvořák & Castro 2007]
Polistes dominulus
Vespa dominula
see more on: www.gbif.org

CONTENTS
1. Distribution
2. Behaviour
3. Plant relations
4. Prey relations
5. Parasitic relations
6. Identification
1. DISTRIBUTION
Polistes dominula is an uncommon wasp [Waarneming.nl] occurring throughout the Netherlands [Waarneming.nl] .
Garden species
The species has been first observed in our garden in 2019.
2. BEHAVIOUR
2.1. ACTIVITY
The species is active from the end of April towards the beginning of November, with the males appearing in the second halve of June [Peeters et al. 2004].
2.2. DEVELOPMENT
Nest
The females of this hypergeic species built their own nests using paper produced from chewed wood pulp. The nest consists of a comb and is gymnodome, i.e. it has no envelope like the nest of for example the Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris). For that reason nest are constructed on somewhat sheltered locations. Often man-made materials are used as substrate for the nest [McGruddy 2021].
Personal observations on Polistes dominula nest locations include:
Location | Land | Description |
---|---|---|
In window | Italy | A large nest with ±250-300 cells (photo below left). |
Underneath a rock on the ground | France | Nest size could not be determined (photo below right). |
In gutter | Italy | A middle sized nest standing free in the end of a gutter. |
In fire hose enclosure | Italy | A slid-shaped opening in the door of the enclosure provided the entrance to the middle-sized nest hanging inside. |
Underneath roof tiles | Italy | Not clear how many nests were involved. Many specimen were present on the roof of a stone shed-like structure. They emerged from underneath several roof tiles. Inside the shed near the roof top was the entrance to the nest of Vespa crabro. |
Porch roof | Italy | A small nest of ±10 cells hanging on the porch roof close to the wall of the cabin. |
Depending on the circumstances an old nest may be used, either as substrate for the new nest [Łączyński 2020] or as-is [Bakar et al. 2016].
2.3. BEE HOTEL
In 2022 the species formed aggregation in the deep cracks in the nesting blocks of the bee hotel in our garden. These so-called pre-overwinter aggregations are part of an important social process for the species in which the new queens for the next season are determined [Krischan 2023],[Dapporto et al. 2006].

3. PLANT RELATIONS
3.1. WOOD TYPES
The following wood types are mentioned in literature as medium for the wasp to built her nests:
shrubs [McGruddy 2021] | – |
3.2. FOOD PLANTS
The following plant species are mentioned in literature as food sources:
Amaryllidaceae | Allium – Allium ramosum (Chinese chive) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Apiaceae | Chaerophyllum – Chaerophyllum bulbosum (Bulbous-rooted chervil) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Cirsium – Cirsium arvense (Creeping thistle) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Daucus – Daucus carota (Carrot) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Eryngium – Eryngium campestre (Field eryngo) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] – Eryngium maritimum (Sea holly) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Falcaria – Falcaria vulgaris [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Foeniculum – Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Heracleum (Hogweed) – Heracleum sphondylium [Amolin & Ogol 2019als Heracleum sibiricum] Seseli – Seseli libanotis (Moon carrot) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Asteraceae (Composite family) | Arctium – Arctium lappa (Burdock) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Carduus – Carduus acanthoides [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Centaurea – Centaurea diffusa [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Solidago – Solidago canadensis [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Symphyotrichum – Symphyotrichum novi-belgi [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Taraxacum – Taraxacum officinale [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Tussilago – Tussilago farfara [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Bignoniaceae (Trumpetvines) | Campsis – Campsis radicans (Trumpetvine) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Brassicaceae (Cabbage family) | Alliaria – Alliaria petiolata [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Capsella – Capsella bursa-pastoris [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family) | Symphoricarpos – Symphoricarpos albus [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Caryophyllaceae | Alsine – Alsine media [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Gypsophila – Gypsophila paniculata [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Saponaria – Saponaria officinalis [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Convolvulaceae [Amolin & Ogol 2019als Cuscutaceae] | Cuscuta – Cuscuta campestris [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Crassulaceae | Hylotelephium – Hylotelephium spectabile [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia – Euphorbia marginata [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Fabaceae | Melilotus – Melilotus albus [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Lamiaceae | Mentha – Mentha piperita [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Satureja – Satureja monta [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Plantaginaceae [Amolin & Ogol 2019als Veronicaceae] | Linaria – Linaria vulgaris [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Plumbaginaceae | Limonium – Limonium platyphyllum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Resedaceae | Reseda – Reseda lutea [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Rosaceae | Crataegus [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Prunus – Prunus cerasifera [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Rubus – Rubus idaeus [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Salicaceae | Salix [Amolin & Ogol 2019] – Salix acutifolia [Amolin & Ogol 2019] – Salix caprea [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Sapindaceae | Acer (Esdoorn) – Acer platanoides [Amolin & Ogol 2019] – Acer pseudoplatanus [Amolin & Ogol 2019] – Acer tataricum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Aesculus – Aesculus parviflora [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Tiliaceae | Tilia – Tilia cordata [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Violaceae | Viola – Viola odorata [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Plant species outside the Netherlands:
Apiaceae | Peucedanum – Peucedanum ruthenicum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Seseli – Seseli tortuosum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Sium – Sium sisarum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Apocynaceae | Cynanchum – Cynanchum acutum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Asteraceae | Cirsium – Cirsium ukranicum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Galatella – Galatella dracunculoides [Amolin & Ogol 2019] Senecio – Senecio macrophyllus [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia – Euphorbia stepposa [Amolin & Ogol 2019] – Euphorbia virgata [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Grossulariaceae | Grossularia – Grossularia reclinata [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Lamiaceae | Teucrium – Teucrium polium [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Rubiaceae | Galium – Galium humifusum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] – Galium articulatum [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Vitaceae | Ampelopsis – Ampelopsis aconitifolia [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
Garden species
Our garden provides some of these foodplants on which the species has been observed foraging:
Apiaceae | Foeniculum – Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) |
Bignoniaceae (Trumpetvines) | Campsis – Campsis radicans (Trumpetvine) [Amolin & Ogol 2019] |
4. PREY RELATIONS
The species uses caterpillars of butterflies and moths [Hughes et al. 2004] for her brood, but also larvae of other orders are used.
The following species and group occurring in the Netherlands [Soortenregister] are mentioned in literature:
Coleoptera (Beetles) | Chrysomelidae Cassida (Tortoisebeetles) – Cassida rubiginosa (Thistle tortoise beetle) [Schenk & Bacher 2002],[Stamp & Bowers 1988],[Spataro et al. 2012] Coccinellidae (Lady birds) Coccinella [Howse 2021] Tenebrionidae Tenebrio – Tenebrio molitor (Mealworm) [Stamp & Bowers 1988] |
Diptera (Flies) | Agromyzidae Cerodontha Ceratopogonidae Forcipomyia [Howse 2021] Tabanidae [Howse 2021] |
Hemiptera [Howse et al. 2022] Auchenorrhyncha (Cicadae) [Howse et al. 2022] | |
Lepidoptera (Butterflies) | Butterflies Lycaenidae Lycaena [Howse 2021] Pieridae Pieris – Pieris brassicae [Lucas-Barbosa et al. 2014] – Pieris napi [Rayor et al. 2007] – Pieris rapae [McGruddy 2021] Moths Geometridae [Ruchin & Antropov 2019] Chloroclystis [Howse 2021] Peribatodes [Howse 2021] Scopula [Howse 2021] Noctuidae Agrotis [Howse 2021] Leucania [Howse 2021] Mythimna [Howse 2021] Thysanoplusia [Howse 2021] Tortricidae [Ruchin & Antropov 2019] Epiphyas [Howse 2021] – Epiphyas postvittana [Howse et al. 2022] Pyralidae Galleria – Galleria mellonella [Brown et al. 2012] |
Araneae (Spiders) | Theridiidae Cryptachaea [Howse 2021] |
Prey species outside the Netherlands:
Diptera (Flies) | Tachinidae Trigonospila [Howse 2021] |
Hemiptera [Howse et al. 2022] Auchenorrhyncha (Cicadae) [Howse et al. 2022] | Kikihia [Howse 2021] – Kikihia muta [Howse et al. 2022] |
Lepidoptera (Butterflies) | Butterflies Hesperiidae Epargyreus – Epargyreus clarus [Weiss et al. 2004] Lycaenidae Zizina [Howse 2021] – Zizina labradus [McGruddy 2021] Nymphalidae Danaus – Danaus plexippus [Rayor et al. 2007],[Howse et al. 2022],[Howse 2021],[McGruddy 2021] Moths Erebidae Egone [Howse 2021] Nyctemera [Howse 2021] Geometridae Declana [Howse 2021] Phrissogonus [Howse 2021] Noctuidae Ctenoplusia [Howse 2021] Ectopatria [Howse 2021] Pyralidae Leptodus [Howse 2021als Vincia] Saturniidae Gamelia [Howse 2021] Hemileuca Hemileuca lucina [Stamp & Bowers 1988] Opodiphthera [Howse 2021] Tortricidae Holocola [Howse 2021] Merophyas [Howse 2021] |
Mantodea (Mantids) | Mantidae Orthodera [Howse 2021] |
5. PARASITIC RELATIONS
The following species and groups occurring in the Netherlands [Soortenregister] are mentioned in literature:
Chalcidoidae (Chalcid wasps) | Pteromalidae Dibrachys – Dibrachys cavus [Miller et al. 2013],[Howse 2021] |
Diptera (Flies) | Sarcophagidae Sarcophaga [Miller et al. 2013] |
Xenidae | Xenos – Xenos vesparum [Hughes et al. 2004],[Smit & Smit 2014] |
Parasitic species outside the Netherlands:
Lepidoptera (Butterflies) | Crambidae Chalcoela – Chalcoela iphitalis [Miller et al. 2013] |
Vespidae (Vespid wasps) | Polistes – Polistes sulcifer [Cervo_2006] – Polistes semenowi [Cervo_2006] – Polistes atrimandibularis [Smit & Smit 2014],[Cervo_2006] |
6. IDENTIFICATION
Length males: 10 – 17 mm
Length females: 10 – 17 mm
Genus
The genus Polistes can be identified using the following characters:
1. Antenna: elongated, not club-shaped [Mauss et al. 2004]
2. Forewing: with three submarginal cells [Mauss et al. 2004
3. Legs: middle shins (tibia) with two thorns [Mauss et al. 2004]
4. Legs: tarsal claws without teeth [Mauss et al. 2004]
5. Mandibles: short and wide, without carinae on the outside [Mauss et al. 2004]
6. Abdomen: cone-shaped [Mauss et al. 2004]
7. Abdomen: frontally gradually narrowed towards the petiole [Mauss et al. 2004]

specimen caught for photo identification on 29-viii-2022



1. Antenna: with 12 segments [Mauss et al. 2004]
2. Abdomen: with 6 segments [Mauss et al. 2004]
3. Head: eyes dark coloured [Mauss et al. 2004]
4. Head: lower halve face underneath antennae yellow and black coloured [Mauss et al. 2004]

5. Abdomen: with stinger [Mauss et al. 2004
HEAD
1. Mandibles: outside without recesses [Mauss et al. 2004]
2. Clypeus: base middle lobe without depression, in side view weakly convex [Mauss et al. 2004]

3. Clypeus: middle lobe protruding beyond side corners [Mauss et al. 2004]
4. Clypeus: completely yellow or with extensive black colouring (here completely yellow) [Mauss et al. 2004]
5. Antenna: from the third member completely orange [Mauss et al. 2004]
THORAX
no characters
ABDOMEN
1. Sternite 6 typically predominantly yellow [Mauss et al. 2004]

–
1. Antenna with 13 segments [Mauss et al. 2004]
2. Abdomen with 7 segments [Mauss et al. 2004]
3. Head: eyes coloured green [Mauss et al. 2004]
4. Head: lower halve face underneath antennae completely yellow [Mauss et al. 2004]
5. Antenna: apical antennal members spirally rolled [Mauss et al. 2004]
KOP
1. Mandibles: outside without recesses [Mauss et al. 2004]
2. Mandibles: yellow coloured [Mauss et al. 2004]
2. Clypeus: base middle lobe without depression, in side view weakly convex [Mauss et al. 2004]
3. Clypeus: middle lobe protruding beyond side corners [Mauss et al. 2004]
4. Antenna: from the third member completely orange [Mauss et al. 2004]
THORAX
no characters
ABDOMEN
no characters
Literature
Amolin & Ogol 2019 Amolin, A. V., & Ogol, I. N., 2019. Trophic relations of wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) with flowering plants (Magnoliophyta) in Donbass. Euroasian Èntomol. J, 18, 365-376.Bakar et al. 2016 Bakar, N. A. A., Baracchi, D., & Turillazzi, S., 2016. Reuse of old nests by the European paper wasp Polistes dominula (Hymenoptera Vespidae). Redia, 98(1), 21-24.
Brown et al. 2012 Brown, R., Payne, A., Graham, K. K., & Starks, P. T., 2012. Prey capture and caste-specific payload capacities in the European paper wasp Polistes dominulus. Insectes sociaux, 59, 519-525.
Cervo_2006 Cervo, R., 2006. Polistes wasps and their social parasites: an overview. In Annales Zoologici Fennici (pp. 531-549). Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board.
Dapporto et al. 2006 Dapporto, L., Palagi, E., Cini, A., & Turillazzi, S., 2006. Prehibernating aggregations of Polistes dominulus: an occasion to study early dominance assessment in social insects. Naturwissenschaften, 93, 321-324.
Dvořák & Castro 2007 Dvořák, L., & Castro, L., 2007. New and noteworthy records of vespid wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) from the Palaearctic region. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 47, 229-236.
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Citation
Krischan, O.R., 2025. Polistes dominula. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on [date month year].