- Polistes chinensis
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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]
References
- ^ Crowe, A. (2002). Which New Zealand Insect? Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin. ISBN 0141006366.
- ^ Asian Paper Wasp | Biosecurity New Zealand Retrieved 7 January 2007
- ^ Asian Paper Wasp Control paper
- ^ Clapperton, B.K. (1999). "Abundance of wasps and prey consumption of paper wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Polistinae) in Northland, New Zealand.". New Zealand Journal of Ecology 23: 11–19. http://www.nzes.org.nz/nzje/free_issues/NZJEcol23_1_11.pdf.
- ^ Saigo, T.; Tsucchida, K. (2004). "Queen and worker policing in monogynous and monandrous colonies of a primitively eusocial wasp". Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. Biol. Sci. 271 (Suppl.): S509–S512.
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