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Nest Architecture Of Polistine Wasps, James M. Poff

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Wasps of the genus Polistes build two basic types of unenclosed paper nests. The mesocaulus type nest has fewer peripheral cells and comes closer to having the minimum number of total cell walls than the acrocaulus type nest. It is suggested that natural selection has favored this more economical nest form in regions with short growing seasons.