Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 416

The European paper wasp, scientifically known as Polistes dominula, is a species native to southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. It has also been introduced to other regions such as New Zealand, Australia, and North and South America. The species is often referred to as the European paper wasp due to its native distribution and the nests it constructs from paper and saliva. P. dominula has high levels of genetic diversity in introduced populations, likely due to different dispersal events. It forms colonies and exhibits social hierarchies. The nests of P. dominula are parasitized by various insect species, and the saliva of the wasps has been used to develop a waterproof coating for biodegradable drones.