Lotus Born from a Tree
Title: Lotus Born from a Tree
Year: 1991
Description: This is the nest of the umbrella paper wasp Polistes takasagonus. This wasp scrapes fibers from plants, mixes them with oral secretions, and masticates the mixture to form pulp for building a nest. There is no envelope or outer layer. The fully formed nest is relatively small. The pieces of the nest fit closely together, with the petiole on one side, not in the center. There is only one comb with its opening facing downward. It has relatively wide cells and bright yellow cocoon lids. These distinctly differ from the white cocoon lids of other paper wasps.
Insect: Umbrella paper wasp Polistes takasagonus Sonan, 1943
Order Hymenoptera
Family Vespidae
Subfamily Polistinae
Tribe Polistini
Introduction: Polistes takasagonus is a species of umbrella paper wasp that is endemic to Taiwan. It has a body length of 1-1.5cm. It is a medium-sized wasp with an elongated body. This species is widely distributed in low- to medium-elevation areas throughout Taiwan, and is also found on Orchid Island. It prefers to build its nests in bushes and trees, with the number of colonies in the dozens. It is not very aggressive and will not attack humans unless provoked.
Photographed by: Zhang Jia-Hao
