Polistinae Lepeletier, 1836
Biology
Eusocial wasps. Hong Kong species construct un-enveloped aerial nests from a paper material. Characterized by haplometrosis, when colonies founded by a single queen, except Parapolybia nodosa and Polistes japonicus. Colonies are annual and have the following development stages: initiation stage, worker stage, reproductive stage. After the emergence of the males, the colony gradually collapses. The fertile females spend the winter months in shelter and start a new colony the following spring (Barthélémy 2021). Polistes species are specialized to prey on Lepidoptera larvae. Ropalidini scavage on dead arthropods, carrion or actively hunting.
Map
GBIF.org (22 January 2026) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.a4kudb; https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.jncutk; https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.mh9qxf
Sources
Barthélémy C. 2021. Identification guide to the social wasps of Hong Kong (Hymenoptera; Vespidae). Self-published; Hong Kong. 63 p. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350912274_Identification_Guide_to_the_Social_Wasps_of_Hong_Kong_Hymenoptera_Vespidae
Barthélémy C & Guénard B. 2025. An annotated and illustrated checklist of Hong Kong aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Apoid wasps; Pompilioidea; Scolioidea; Thynnoidea; Tiphioidea; Vespoidea; Chrysidoidea). Insecta Mundi 1115: 1–230.