Appearance
Polistes metricus has a dark ferruginous (rusty) color with black markings on its thorax and a mostly black abdomen. Its tibia is black, and the tarsi are yellow. The three ocelli are contained within a black spot, separate from the antennae. Females bear six abdominal segments, while males bear seven. Swelled parts of the abdomen of this species is a key defining element.
Food
Polistes wasps including Polistes metricus prey on Lepidopteran larvae (i.e. caterpillars) most frequently. They are considered generalist predators. Polistes also eat other insects. Manipulation by parental feedings has been hypothesized to pay a role in the development of larvae. The proponents of the hypothesis argue that the well fed larvae grow to into be reproductive adults. However, it was found that parent manipulation of the brood is not done is Polistes metricus.
Predators
Parasitoids and parasites of Polistes metricus tend to affect the colony at different stages in their development. It has been shown that C. pegasalis is able to infect a colony at any stage except the egg stage. C. pegasalis prefers to infect colonies that have larvae and pupae. X. peckii is similar because it prefers to parasitize larvae and pupae. In contrast, X. peckii can infect any stage of development. Infestations of Xenos parasites happen frequently in Georgia.References:
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