Editing Paper wasp (section)

== Behavior ==
Unlike [[yellowjacket]]s and [[hornet]]s, which can be very aggressive, [[Polistinae|polistine]] paper wasps will generally only attack if they themselves or their nest are threatened.<ref>Felixson, Carol (undated). "Paper wasps work together." Retrieved 2009-04-26 from "L.A. Times" at [https://web.archive.org/web/20090105161935/http://www.latimes.com/features/kids/readingroom/la-et-kidcal5mar06,1,7872696.story].</ref> Their territoriality can lead to attacks on people, and their stings are quite painful and – like all venomous animals – can produce a potentially fatal [[anaphylaxis|anaphylactic]] reaction in some individuals.<ref name=Texas>Drees, B.M. and John Jackman (1999). ''Field Guide to Texas Insects.'' Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas. Excerpt available at: [http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg348.html Texas Cooperative extension] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205022343/http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg348.html |date=2006-12-05 }}</ref> A study conducted on European paper wasps (''[[Polistes dominula]]'') concluded that wasps with brighter [[Aposematism|aposematic colors]] are more venomous, because they have larger venom glands, and offer a stronger warning signal to organisms threatening the nest.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Vidal-Cordero|first1=J|last2=Moreno-Rueda|first2=Gregorio|last3=López-Orta|first3=Antonio|last4=Marfil-Daza|first4=Carlos|last5=Ros-Santaella|first5=José L|last6=Ortiz-Sánchez|first6=F|date=2012|title=Brighter-colored paper wasps (''Polistes dominula'') have larger poison glands |journal=Frontiers in Zoology | volume=9|issue=1|pages=20|doi=10.1186/1742-9994-9-20|issn=1742-9994|pmc=3495029|pmid=22901602|doi-access=free}}</ref>
[[File:Polistes africanus.jpg|thumb|Paper wasp on a spider lily leaf – they are considered beneficial by gardeners.]]
[[File:Paper wasp disturbed.webm|thumb|thumbtime=10|right|Paper wasps disturbed by hits to their nest support.]]
[[File:Paper wasp nest raided.png|thumb|Foundress' nest raided by a rat, beetle or other predator. Nest was previously seen eleven days earlier when there were five eggs. If the foundress survived, she would start a new nest at a different location]]

Most wasps are beneficial in their natural habitat and are critically important in natural biocontrol.<ref name= OSU/> Paper wasps feed on sugars like [[nectar]], [[aphid]] [[Honeydew (secretion)|honeydew]] and the sugary liquid produced by their larvae. Because they are a known [[pollinator]] and feed on known garden [[Pest (organism)|pests]], paper wasps are often considered to be beneficial by gardeners.<ref name=Texas/>

When threatened, the wasps have a variety of responses depending upon the severity. Paper wasps use [[alarm pheromone]]s to coordinate their response. The first level is posturing. They face the perceived threat, stand tall and raise their wings.

At a higher level of threat, the wasp will move around the nest surface. With sufficient disturbance, the wasp will fly around the nest attempting to locate the source, chasing and stinging the threat.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paper Wasp Swarming Around Structures {{!}} NC State Extension Publications |url=https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/paper-wasp-swarming-around-structures |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=content.ces.ncsu.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>