paper wasp

noun

: a vespid wasp (especially genus Polistes) that builds a nest of papery material

Examples of paper wasp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Among these are black widow spiders; the formidable Arizona bark scorpion, known for its venomous sting; and the strikingly colored mustard yellow paper wasps, recognized for their distinctive nests and painful stings. The Arizona Republic, 14 Feb. 2024 Wasps Several species of paper wasps are also considered beneficial to gardeners. Dan Nosowitz, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024 And, Mass Audubon says, paper wasps have taste buds similar to yellow jackets - and a bit more subtlety. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2023 In place of skill, paper wasp 2.0 honed her face to use as a club. Robyn Schiff, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023 Paper Wasps Similar to mud daubers, paper wasps have a brownish color, although some may be found with red stripes. Rebecca Straus, Good Housekeeping, 28 Mar. 2023 The resident's report included a photograph of the hornet attacking a paper wasp nest in a rural area east of the town of Blaine, about two miles from where state workers eradicated the first Asian giant hornet nest in the United States last October. CBS News, 13 Aug. 2021 Take it from Blaschki: A paper wasp sting hurts. René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 1 Sep. 2020 To be fair, a queen paper wasp (Polistes chinensis antennalis) is a single mom with a lot on her plate. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2015

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paper wasp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paper wasp was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near paper wasp

Cite this Entry

“Paper wasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper%20wasp. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

paper wasp

noun
: a wasp that builds a nest out of papery material

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