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Te katipō pepa o Āhia

Asian paper wasp

Polistes chinensis Fabricius
Hoki ki te He aha tēnei pepeke? Back to What is this bug?
Asian Paper Wasp [Polistes chinensis]. Image: Jan Doak CC BY-NC 4.0

Asian Paper Wasp Polistes chinensis. Image: Jan Doak CC BY-NC 4.0

Pūtoi
Order
Hymenoptera
Whānau
Family
Vespidae
Show in English Te Reo

Te Rahi

  • He pepeke āhua rahi, 12–15 mm te roa.

Size range

  • Medium–sized insects, 12–15 mm long

Te Tītaringa

  • I tae pokerehū mai.
  • Kua kitea anō te katipō pepa o Āhia i Ōtākou.

Distribution

  • Accidentally introduced. Now found as far south as Otago

Te Huringa Ora

  • He pepeke wero.
  • He iti te kōhanga, he rite ki te hamarara te hanga, he kakau anō tōna, ka whakamaua atu ki te rākau, ki ngā hikuhiku rānei o te whare.
  • Ina rere, ka tāwēwē noa iho ana waewae o muri.
  • Kai ai i te anuhe, i te ngongo, i te waimiere, i te huarākau.

Life history

  • Can sting
  • Nests are small, umbrella shaped, attached by a short stalk to tree or overhanging eaves of house
  • Flies with hind legs dangling
  • Eats caterpillars, nectar, honeydew and fruit

He pārongo atu anō

  • He kōrero atu anō

Further information

  • Identification of Asian paper wasps
Wasp resting on nest Image
Wasp resting on nest
Asian paper wasp / Te katipō pepa o Āhia Image
Asian paper wasp / Te katipō pepa o Āhia
Asian paper wasp nest. Image: Don Horne / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) Image
Asian paper wasp nest. Image: Don Horne / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Asian Paper Wasp [Polistes chinensis]. Image: Jan Doak CC BY-NC 4.0 Image
Asian Paper Wasp Polistes chinensis. Image: Jan Doak CC BY-NC 4.0
Paper wasp nest. Image: jacqui nz (CC BY-NC) Image
Paper wasp nest. Image: jacqui nz (CC BY-NC)