| Polistes chinensis | |
|---|---|
| Polistes chinensis antennalis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Polistinae |
| Tribe: | Polistini |
| Genus: | Polistes |
| Species: | P. chinensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Polistes chinensis (Fabricius, 1793) |
|
Polistes chinensis is a polistine vespid in the cosmopolitan genus Polistes, and is commonly known as the Asian, Chinese or Japanese paper wasp. It is found in East Asia (in particular China and Japan). The subspecies Polistes chinensis antennalis is a common non-native insect of New Zealand,[1] arriving in 1979.[2] It has established itself on both the North and northern South Island of New Zealand, and competes with native species for food[3] so is of concern regarding conservation.
It is a predator, feeding on invertebrates especially caterpillars.[4] In this species queens destroy up to 70% of worker-laid eggs.[5]