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Red Wasp

What is red wasp?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Scientific name *Polistes carolina*[2]
Order Hymenoptera[3]
Family Vespidae[3]
Genus *Polistes*[3]
Found in Eastern United States[3]
Size About an inch in length[2]

Red wasp is a common name for red-colored stinging wasps, most often referring to *Polistes carolina*, a paper wasp found in the eastern United States.

Context

Red wasps are a type of paper wasps known for their reddish-brown head and body [3]. They are found in the eastern United States [3] and are about an inch long [2]. They build nests from wood fibers and saliva [1]. Red wasps can sting multiple times because their stingers are smooth [2]. They feed on nectar, with goldenrod being a favorite food source [2].

Documented claims

  • Red wasps are a type of paper wasp. [1]
  • They can sting multiple times. [2]
  • They are native to the southeastern and southcentral United States. [3]

Related

  • Yellow Jacket WaspYellow jackets are commonly confused with red wasps and readers may want to compare them.
  • Spider WaspSpider wasps are another common wasp species that readers may encounter and want to distinguish.

Questions and answers

Are red wasps harmful?

Red wasps can sting multiple times and their stings are painful [2]. They are considered aggressive by some sources [4].

Are there red wasps in Canada?

The provided sources do not mention red wasps in Canada. They are found in the eastern United States [3].

What is the difference between a red wasp and a regular wasp?

Red wasps are a type of paper wasp with a reddish-brown head and body [3]. They are about an inch long [2] and can sting multiple times [2].

What happens if you get bit by a red wasp?

Red wasps sting, not bite. Their stings are painful and they can sting multiple times [2].

Sources

  1. What is a Red Wasp? And How to Get Rid of Them ... — planetnatural.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. What Is An Alabama Red Wasp? Here's Why You're ... — southernliving.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Red Wasp | KET Image Bank | PBS LearningMedia — pbslearningmedia.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Red Wasps: Stings, Nests & Removal — orkin.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things