Paper Wasp vs Southeastern Drywood Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Paper Wasp | Southeastern Drywood Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polistes dominula | Incisitermes snyderi |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Vespidae | Kalotermitidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 7–11 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, worldwide (introduced) | Southeastern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Paper Wasp
Builds open-comb nests from chewed wood fiber mixed with saliva, creating paper-like material. Has a complex social hierarchy with facial pattern recognition between individuals.
Did You Know?
Paper wasps can recognize individual faces — they use facial patterns to identify nestmates and establish dominance hierarchies, one of the few insects known to have face recognition.
Southeastern Drywood Termite
A drywood termite found in the southeastern United States that infests structural timber. Colonies are small but can persist for decades undetected.
Did You Know?
Swarms are attracted to lights at night, and finding shed wings on windowsills is often the first sign of infestation.