Rothney's Paper Wasp is a large East Asian paper wasp, about 1 in (23–25 mm) long, found in China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. It does not live in the United States. Like other paper wasps, it builds an open, umbrella-shaped paper nest and feeds its young on caterpillars.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A slender black wasp with bright yellow markings and a narrow waist. It dangles its hind legs in flight, like other paper wasps.
Where it lives
- Range
- Native to China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. It is not found in North America.
Behavior
- Diet
- Adults hunt caterpillars, chew them into a paste, and feed it to the larvae.
Life cycle
- Nest
- A single open comb of paper cells hanging face-down, attached under eaves, rock walls, or branches. Several queens sometimes share one nest.
Cautions
- Cautions
- It defends its nest and can sting repeatedly. In Japan it is considered one of the more defensive paper wasps near its nest.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- The species is named after George Alexander James Rothney, the collector of the original specimens.
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