Polistes japonicus

Polistes japonicus
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Subfamily: Polistinae
Tribe: Polistini
Genus: Polistes
Species:
P. japonicus
Binomial name
Polistes japonicus
Saussure, 1858
Synonyms
  • Polistes erythrocerus Cameron, 1900
  • Polistes hengchunensis Kuo, 1987
  • Polistes shekouensis Kuo, 1987

Polistes japonicus is a eusocial paper wasp found in Japan. It was first described by Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1858. It is closely related to Polistes formosanus. This species lives in small colonies with few workers and a foundress queen. Nests of these wasps are sometimes used as a traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan.