Asian Paper Wasp

Polistes chinensis is a polistine vespid wasp in the cosmopolitan genus Polistes, and is commonly known as the Asian, Chinese or Japanese paper wasp. Approximately 300 species of paper wasps have been identified worldwide. Polistes chinensis is found in East Asia, in particular China and Japan. The subspecies P. chinensis antennalis is an invasive species in New Zealand, having arrived in 1979, and more recently Australia.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

Considered venomous. Public sources list it as such; we have not verified this individually. The note covers its whole family. Wasps and hornets; stings Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

• Polistes associus — considered venomous
• Polistes nimpha — considered venomous
• Polistes albellus — considered venomous
• Polistes biglumis — considered venomous
• Polistes mongolicus — considered venomous

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Vespidae

Genus

Polistes

Species

Polistes chinensis

More species