What distinguishes the nest structure of Vespula from Polistes?

Answer

*Vespula* nests are fully enclosed within a papery envelope, often hidden.

A major practical difference between the genera *Polistes* (paper wasps) and *Vespula* (yellowjackets and hornets) within the Vespidae family lies entirely in their architecture of their communal dwellings. *Polistes* construct nests where the hexagonal cells containing the brood are visible and open to the air, typically hanging from a substrate like an eave or branch. In stark contrast, *Vespula* wasps build nests surrounded by a protective, sealed outer shell made of paper, resulting in a fully enclosed structure. This enclosure often necessitates construction in concealed areas, such as beneath the ground in abandoned rodent burrows or deep within wall cavities, offering full protection to the colony within.

What distinguishes the nest structure of Vespula from Polistes?

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