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European Paper Wasp

European paper wasps were introduced into North America in the 1970s and have since spread across the continent. They outcompete native paper wasps and negatively affect caterpillars.
Updated:
April 14, 2023

Summary

European paper wasps are invasive wasps that are displacing native species. Due to their coloration, they are often confused with  yellowjackets.

Classification

Common name: European paper wasp

Scientific name: Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791)

Family: Vespidae (Paper wasps, yellowjackets, and potter and mason wasps)

Order: Hymenoptera (Bees, wasps, ants, and kin)

Description

European paper wasps are black with prominent yellow markings, so are frequently mistaken for yellowjackets. Compared to yellowjackets, European paper wasps are larger, have a thinner "waist" and abdomen, and have orange-tipped antennae rather than completely black antennae (Figure 1). Many native paper wasps can be identified by their darker coloration of blacks, browns, and dark reds, although a few species are entirely dark red in color.

Figure 1. European paper wasp (left) compared to a yellowjacket (right). Note the orange-tipped antennae, thinner waist and abdomen, and different black and yellow pattern of the European hornet. Photograph of European paper wasp by Scott M Logan via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license. Photo of a yellowjacket by Doug Wechsler via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.

In flight, paper wasps, including European paper wasps, dangle their legs while yellowjackets hold their legs close to the body.

Fig. 2. Comparison of European paper wasp (left) and yellowjacket (right) in flight. Note the dangling legs of the paper wasp. Photograph of European paper wasp by carlthecuttlefish via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license. Photograph of yellowjacket by Delmar W. Bachert via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

Paper wasp nests are shaped like upside-down umbrellas, with open cells can be seen from below. This is most obvious when nests are built in exposed areas but can be more difficult if they are constructed in enclosed areas (Figures 3, 4). Yellowjackets tend to nest in the ground (although they may be found in enclosed aerial areas) and build nests that are enclosed with a paper envelope.

Figure 3. European paper wasp nest built on a branch in an exposed area. Note the distinctive umbrella shape that is characteristic of paper wasp nests. Photograph by Sportz Fotos Your Sport Your Photos via Flickr, used under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.

Figure 4. European paper wasp nest inside a confined pipe. Note how the umbrella shape that is typical of exposed nests is not apparent. Photograph by alex5a via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

Range

European paper wasps are native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean regions. Historically, they were confined to Southern Europe south of northern France, but in recent decades have expanded northward as far as Denmark and Great Britain. They can now be found throughout most of Europe, across northern Africa, and eastward across Asia into China.

European paper wasps were accidentally introduced into North America and first reported in 1978 around Boston. Since then, they have spread across the United States and Southern Canada and are now found coast to coast across the continent, although they are apparently less common in the Southeast and Great Plains.

Natural History

Fertilized queens overwinter in protected areas, such as under the bark of fallen trees, in hollow trees, behind siding, in wall voids, in attics, or occasionally in the cells of abandoned wasp nests. They emerge in the spring and found new nests, which are made of paper and appear as a small cluster of open cells attached to a structure by a short stalk (Figure 5). At this time, the queen does all the work of the colony, including nest building and foraging.

Figure 5. Queen European paper wasp on the outside of the nest she started. Once workers begin to emerge, she will stop foraging for food and building the nest to focus on laying eggs. Photograph by Bill Lucas via iNaturalist, used under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license.

The queen deposits small, elongated eggs (one to a cell) that hatch in several days. She feeds the young larvae masticated caterpillars and other insects. After the first brood of larvae mature and emerge as female workers, the queen limits her activity to laying eggs while the workers assume the duties of food collection, nest construction, and colony defense. With optimal temperatures and a plentiful food source, the larvae complete their development and become adult wasps in as little as 40 days.

Nests are constructed in protected locations such as under and within the eaves of structures, in attics and wall voids, and other enclosed areas. Some of the more notable locations where nests have been encountered include exterior lighting fixtures, parking meters, animal skulls, bird boxes, and infrequently used equipment like gas grills, motor homes, and boats.

Environmental Impact

European paper wasps compete with native paper wasps, primarily northern paper wasps (Polistes fuscatus) for food and nesting sites, but the impact varies by locality. In Michigan, European paper wasps have completely replaced northern paper wasps in some areas, while in Ontario the two species exist at an approximately 1:1 ratio. Elsewhere, such as in South Dakota, European paper wasps are present but at a lower frequency compared to native species.

The displacement of native paper wasps by European paper wasps has been attribute to multiple factors, which can differ across regions and produce these variable outcomes:

  • European paper wasps establish colonies earlier in the season, which means workers forage earlier and can lead to faster colony expansion. However, in colder areas, including Pennsylvania, this can expose them to late-season freezes that result in a high level of mortality.
  • Earlier nest establishment and more workers may allow nests to more easily repel birds that predate wasp larvae.
  • European paper wasps tend to build nests in more enclosed sites, which may protect them from predation and the elements. However, in areas where fewer enclosed areas occur (e.g., the Great Plains), European paper wasps may be restricted to nesting in buildings and other human-altered habitats.
  • European paper wasps have a more varied diet – native paper wasps feed exclusively on caterpillars while European paper wasps feed on caterpillars but also other small, soft-bodied insects – which may increase early and rapid larval development.
  • European paper wasp queens tend to produce more workers compared to native paper wasp species even when they nest in the same habitats
  • European paper wasps experience lower parasitism compared to native paper wasps

There is also evidence that European paper wasps have a detrimental effect on native caterpillars. Multiple studies have found they negatively impact monarch caterpillar populations, especially in urban areas where wasp populations are high and caterpillars are concentrated into small areas. Their spread across North America may therefore represent an underappreciated negative effect on monarch populations.

Medical Concern

European paper wasp stings are no more or less painful or dangerous than other paper wasp stings. People with allergies to wasp stings or those who receive a large number of stings should seek medical attention, but stings in otherwise healthy adults should resolve without medical intervention or complication. Because they tend to nest in enclosed areas, the risk of stings may be increased as homeowners may not be aware that a nest is present before disturbing it.

Management and Control

Limit suitable nest sites by repairing holes in walls, caulk cracks in soffits and eaves, and screen vents and louvers.

Nests made early in the season by founding queens are easier to eliminate before workers are produced. During this period it is easy to knock down exposed nests and kill the queen.

Nests that have several workers can be treated with a wasp and hornet spray. These sprays produce a stream of insecticides that can shoot up to 20 feet from the nozzle. Treatments should be made at night when all the workers and the queen are on the nest. Those nests located within eaves and soffits can be treated by applying an insecticidal dust to the openings of the voids. Blow the dust into the opening, taking care not to breathe dust that becomes airborne. Select a dust that is labeled for this type of application. Appropriate dusters available include bulb dusters and plunger or pump dusters.

Pest control firms also provide services to control paper wasps.

Warning

Pesticides are poisonous. Read and follow directions and safety precautions on labels. Handle carefully and store in original labeled containers out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock. Dispose of empty containers right away, in a safe manner and place. Do not contaminate forage, streams, or ponds.

References

Armstrong, T. R., and N. E. Stamp. 2003. Colony productivity and foundress behaviour of a native wasp versus an invasive social wasp. Ecological Entomology 28: 635–644.

Baker, A. M., and D. A. Potter. 2020. Invasive paper wasp turns urban pollinator gardens into ecological traps for monarch butterfly larvae. Scientific Reports volume 10, Article number: 9553.

Buck, M., S. A. Marshall, and D. K. B. Cheung. 2008. Identification atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification 5: 1-492.

Cervo, R., F. Zacchi, and S. Turillazzi. 2000. Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) invading North America: some hypotheses for its rapid spread. Insectes Sociaux 47: 155–157.

Eickwort, G. C. 1978. Polistes dominulus discovered near Boston. Polistine Information Bulletin Newsletter.

Gamboa, G. J., E. I. Greig, and M. C. Thom. 2002. The comparative biology of two sympatric paper wasps, the native Polistes fuscatus and the invasive Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Insectes Sociaux 49: 45–49.

Gamboa, G. J., M. A. Noble, M. C. Thom, J. L. Togal, R. Srinivasan, and B. D. Murphy. 2004. The comparative biology of two sympatric paper wasps in Michigan, the native Polistes fuscatus and the invasive Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Insectes Sociaux 51: 153–157.

Guiglia, D. 1972. Les Guepes Sociales d’Europe Occidentale et Septentrionale. Faune de l’Europe et du Bassin Mediterranean, VI. Paris: Masson et Cie. 181 pp.

Hathaway, M. A. 1981. Polistes gallicus in Massachusetts (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).
Psyche 88: 169–173.

Hesler, L. S. 2010. Polistes dominula (Christ, 1791) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) found in South Dakota, U.S.A. Insecta Mundi 0145: 1–3.

Judd, T. M., and J. M. Carpenter. 1996. Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) found in Michigan. The Great Lakes Entomologist 29(1): 45–46.

McGruddy, R. A., M .W. F. Howse, J. Haywood, C. J .I. Ward, T. B. Staufer, M. Hayek-Williams, R. J. Toft, and P. J. Lester. 2021. Invasive paper wasps have strong cascading effects on the host plant of monarch butterflies. Ecological Entomology 46, 459–469.

Silagi, S. A., G. J. Gamboa, C. R., Klein, and M. A. Noble. 2003. Behavioral differences between two recently sympatric paper wasps, the native Polistes fuscatus and the invasive Polistes dominulus. Great Lakes Entomologist 36: 99–104.

Assistant Research Professor of Arthropod Identification
Expertise
  • Arthropod identification
  • Arthropod survey, collection, and biodiversity
  • Soil arthropods, with particular emphasis on forest leaf litter
  • Acarology, with particular emphasis on Prostigmata and Cunaxidae
More By Michael J. Skvarla