Polistes nimpha

Polistes nimpha is a eusocial paper wasp found all over Europe, with particular sightings in Turkey, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia. It is also found in northern Africa, Pakistan, Iran, India (especially in the northern states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh), Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China. The climate in these areas is relatively cold and snowy in the winter, while summers are usually hot and dry, with steppe vegetation. Polistes nimpha colonies are relatively small and easily manipulated. The genus Polistes is known for its morphological and behavioral uniformity. Richards (1973) was the first to propose a global classification of Polistes. The Polistinae have a large tropical distribution and are the most diverse subfamily of the Vespidae. The genus Polistes is extensive and inhabits North America, all the way to Eurasia. Polistes members exhibit a wide range of varying black and yellow color patterns. Polistes nimpha is generally more black-patterned than its relative, Polistes dominula. One may distinguish between closely related Polistes species by comparing the color traits. Wasps of the genus Polistes (Latreille, 1802) are good examples for studying alternative phenotypes in social insects. Their small colony size, accessible nests, and moderate aggressiveness enable them to be studied comprehensively. The Polistes nimpha is usually more black-patterned compared to Polistes dominula, but it is very difficult to morphologically differentiate between the females of Polistes nimpha and dominula. In females, the color of the malar area (between the mandible and compound eye) is yellow and the 6th gastral sternum is black. In males, the clypeus (the broad plate at the front of the head) has lateral ridges and the antennal segments are dark at the tips.The venom gland of Polistes nimpha has a muscular poison sac in the shape of an oval. The tip of the stinger is curled at the peak towards the middle, and the palps are shorter than the stinger. The terminal palps are covered with substantial feathers. The nests are beige and grey with dark grey lines. Their sizes vary, with measurements ranging from 8.5 x 9.6 cm to 3.8 x 5 cm. The central cells are oriented in relation to the ground morphology. Polistes nimpha usually nest in trees and sometimes in cavities. A nest consists of a single resinous pedicel and a comb not covered by envelope. Since there are no envelopes on Polistes nests, the temperature is not internally maintained inside the nest. Thus, outer temperatures must coincide with the species needs for offspring development. Watch how the Polistes nimpha thermoregulate their nests .