Now that fall has arrived in central Florida many wildflowers are fading away and the pollinators are having to work a little harder to find food. One of the pollinators that I have been seeing a lot lately is the fine-backed red paper wasp (Polistes carolina), which is also sometimes known as the red paper wasp. They’re active much of the year, but for some reason, I see them much more frequently in the fall. Like other paper wasps, they build their nests out of chewed plant material and saliva. They tend to build larger nests than most paper wasps, but they like to hide them in sheltered areas like tree holes, heavy vegetation, or even under roofs or in sheds or other outbuildings. Fortunately, unless threatened, these wasps are nonaggressive, and the males can’t even sting.

The wasp in the photos was found feeding on some tamarisk flowers in the Gothe State Forest near my home. It’s a male (notice no stinger), probably a worker since the breeding season is over. It didn’t seem to mind my attentions at all (at one point it landed on my camera), so I followed it from flower to flower for a bit. There were other flowers around, but it seemed pretty intent on the tamarisks. I always enjoy finding a willing subject that will let me get close enough to allow some good macro images.