Polistes annularis (P. annularis) is a species of paper wasp found throughout the eastern half of the United States.[1][2] This species of red paper wasp is known for its large size and its red-and-black coloration and is variably referred to as a ringed paper wasp or jack Spaniard wasp. It builds its nest under overhangs near bodies of water that minimize the amount of sunlight penetration.[3] It clusters its nests together in large aggregations,[4] and consumes nectar and other insects.[5] Its principal predator is the ant, although birds are also known to prey on it.[6] Unlike other wasps, P. annularis is relatively robust in winter conditions, and has also been observed to store honey in advance of hibernation.[7] This species has also been used as a model species to demonstrate the ability to use microsatellite markers in maternity assignment of social insects.[8]
^Richards, Owain Westmacott (1978). The social wasps of the Americas, excluding the Vespinae. London: British Museum (Natural History). pp. 477–488. ISBN0565007858.
^Queller, David C., and Joan E. Strassmann. "Reproductive success and group nesting in the paper wasp, Polistes annularis." Reproductive Success: Studies of Individual Variation in Contrasting Breeding Systems, 1988, p. 76-96.
^Strassmann, Joan E (1991). "Costs and Benefits of Colony Aggregation in the Social Wasp,". Behavioral Ecology. 2 (3): 204–09. doi:10.1093/beheco/2.3.204.
^Monsalve, Rafael I.; Lu, Gang; Piao King, Te (1999). "Expressions of Recombinant Venom Allergen, Antigen 5 of Yellowjacket (Vespula Vulgaris) and Paper Wasp (Polistes Annularis), in Bacteria or Yeast". Protein Expression and Purification. 16 (3): 410–16. doi:10.1006/prep.1999.1082. PMID10425162.