| Polistes biglumis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Polistinae |
| Tribe: | Polistini |
| Genus: | Polistes |
| Species: | P. biglumis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Polistes biglumis (Linnaeus, 1758)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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Polistes biglumis is a species of social wasp within Polistes, the most common genus of paper wasp. It is distinguished mainly by its tendency to reside in montane climates in meadows or alpine areas. Selection pressure from the wasp's environment has led to several idiosyncrasies of its behavior and lifecycle with respect to its relative species in the genus Polistes. It alone among paper wasps is often polyandrous. In addition, it has a truncated nesting season that gives rise to unique competitive dynamics among females of the species. P. biglumis wasps use an odor-based recognition system that is the basis for all wasp-to-wasp interaction of the species. The wasp's lifecycle is highly intertwined with that of Polistes atrimandibularis, an obligate social parasite wasp that frequently invades the combs of P. biglumis wasps.[1]
- ^ Lorenzi, M. C.; Turillazzi, S. (1986). "Behavioural and Ecological Adaptations to the High Mountain Environment of Polistes Biglumis Bimaculatus". Ecological Entomology. 11 (2): 199–204. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1986.tb00295.x. S2CID 86457403.