Key to eastern Nearctic Polistinae genera

Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the northeastern Nearctic region
CJAI 05, February 19, 2008
doi: 10.3752/cjai.2008.05

Matthias Buck, Stephen A. Marshall, and David K.B. Cheung

Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1

Subfamily Polistinae (Paper Wasps)

This diverse subfamily is represented in the New World by 21 genera (Carpenter 2004b), most of which are restricted to tropical areas. Only four genera occur in America north of Mexico, two of which are found in the east.

References. – Carpenter, 2004b (key to New World genera); Richards, 1978 (revision of New World species, key to genera and species).

9. Key to eastern Nearctic Polistinae genera

Note: extralimital taxon in brackets.

1.	Metasoma sessile, the first segment at most slightly longer than wide (Figs 10.6–7). Tarsomere 4 of mid and hind leg symmetrical	*Polistes*
-	Metasoma petiolate, the first segment more than twice as long as wide. Tarsomere 4 of mid and hind leg strongly asymmetrical (U.S.: SC to TX along Gulf Coast)	[Mischocyttarus]
	Represented in the east by M. mexicanus (de Saussure) and M. phthisicus (Fabricius)