The Social Wasps of the Nearctic Region

Social wasps can be found worldwide. In the subfamily Polistinae, 1024 extant species in 25 genera are recognized. The social wasps of the subfamily Polistinae that occur in North America consist of the genus Polybia with 59 species, with 2 species in the southern U.S, The genus Brachygastra with 17 species, with 1 species ocuring in the southern U.S. The genus Polistes with about 235 species worldwide, with 23 species ocuring in the Nearctic region, The genus Mischocyttarus with 252 species, with 4 species ocuring in the Nearctic region. In the subfamily Vespinae, a total of 75 extant species are recognized worldwide. The subfamily Vespinae traditionally includes four extant genera (Dolichovespula, Provespa, Vespa and Vespula). The species of Vespinae of North America include 1 species of Vespa, 1 species of Psuedovespula, 1 species of Dolichovespula, 4 species of Boreovespula, 1 species of Vespula, 5 species of Allovespula, 2 species of Lineovespula, 2 species of Griseovespula, and 3 species of Paravespula. A list of synonyms, descriptions, and a discussion of the taxonomy and nesting biology of each species ocuring in the Nearctic region is discussed in this book.