Northern paper wasp vs Red paper wasp
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a northern paper wasp from a red paper wasp, and whether either one bites or stings.
Northern paper wasp
Polistes fuscatus
Red paper wasp
Polistes carolina
≠The key differences
Polistes fuscatus is dark brown with variable yellow markings and often a yellow-and-black face; P. carolina is overall reddish-brown.
⚖︎Side by side
| Northern paper wasp | Red paper wasp | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Painful sting | Painful sting |
| Size | 12-20 mm body length | About 20-25 mm body length |
| Colours | Reddish-brown, Dark brown / nearly black, Yellow, Cream / pale | Reddish-brown, Orange, Yellow, Dark brown |
| Family | Vespidae | Vespidae |
| Habitat | Open wooded areas, gardens, suburban and urban structures; nests under eaves, in sheds, porches, shrubs and tree branches. | Woodland edges, gardens, suburban areas; nests in sheltered, dry sites such as eaves, porch ceilings, attics, hollow trees, shrubs and under bridges. |
| Range | Widespread across much of North America, including Canada and the United States; locally common in temperate regions. | Eastern and southern United States, from the Atlantic coast west to the southern Great Plains and Texas. |
| Active | Spring to autumn (nesting season mostly May-September in temperate North America); diurnal (active in daylight). | Active spring through fall; most visible from late spring to early autumn, daytime activity. |
| Pest? | No | Yes |
🔍How to spot a northern paper wasp
- Slender wasp with narrow 'waist' and long legs that dangle in flight.
- Variable facial markings (yellow or cream patches) that differ between individuals—useful identifier of P. fuscatus in combination with regional range.
- Open, umbrella-shaped single-comb paper nests suspended from a stalk, usually without an outer envelope.
- Body 12-20 mm, brown to dark brown with yellow or cream markings on the abdomen and face.
🔍How to spot a red paper wasp
- Almost entirely reddish-brown body with dark, smoky wings and few or no yellow markings.
- Elongated body with narrow waist and long legs that hang during flight.
- Builds a single exposed umbrella-shaped comb made of papery material, often without a full outer envelope.
- Found on sheltered vertical surfaces such as eaves, porch ceilings, tree branches or inside cavities.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a northern paper wasp and a red paper wasp?
Polistes fuscatus is dark brown with variable yellow markings and often a yellow-and-black face; P. carolina is overall reddish-brown.
Is a northern paper wasp or a red paper wasp more dangerous?
Northern paper wasp: Painful sting. Red paper wasp: Painful sting. Northern paper wasps can deliver painful stings and are defensive around their nest. Polistes carolina can sting repeatedly when defending a nest.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.