The executioner wasp (Polistes carnifex) is a large member of the paper wasp family known for its formidable size and intensely painful defensive sting. It is a social wasp, but its colonies are much smaller than those of more common species, focusing on efficiency and defense. Its venom is considered one of the most painful delivered by any insect.
Geographic Range
The geographic distribution of the executioner wasp covers the Americas, primarily within Central and South America. Native to the Neotropical region, it thrives in warm, humid climates. Its range extends north into the southern United States, with documented sightings in southern Texas and Arizona.
Moving southward, the wasp is a resident of Mexico and Central American countries, including Belize and Costa Rica. The distribution continues deep into South America, encompassing nations such as Colombia, Paraguay, and Brazil (including states like Rio de Janeiro and Pará). The southern limit of its known territory reaches Misiones Province in northern Argentina.
Preferred Environment and Nest Construction
Within its expansive range, the executioner wasp selects habitats that offer protection and resources. The wasp favors coastal, open, and humid areas, frequently inhabiting evergreen tropical forests and wooded savannas. These environments provide the necessary moisture and vegetation for foraging and collecting nest material.
The wasps build small colonies, typically comprising only four to thirteen adult individuals. The nest is constructed from masticated wood pulp mixed with saliva, creating a paper-like material. This structure is open-faced, meaning the hexagonal cells are exposed, and it is suspended from a single central stalk called a petiole.
Nests are often found in sheltered, aerial locations, such as under the eaves of buildings or attached to branches of low thorny trees near temporary swamps. The typical size of a finished nest is modest, often reaching a maximum diameter of nine centimeters. The queen initiates construction and feeds the first cells until workers emerge to assist in the colony’s development.
Physical Characteristics and the Sting
The executioner wasp is one of the largest paper wasps in the Neotropics, with adult body lengths measuring between 24 and 33 millimeters. Its striking coloration consists of a prominent pattern of yellow and dark brown bands across its body. The wasp possesses robust mandibles used for chewing wood fibers for nest building and macerating prey.
The species derives its name from the severe pain inflicted by its venomous sting. Scientific assessments note the sting is exceptionally potent, often described as one of the most agonizing insect stings a human can experience. The venom is a neurotoxin that causes immediate, intense localized pain, swelling, and redness.
The species is not inherently aggressive and usually stings only in defense. The sting is primarily a defense mechanism employed to protect the small colony from perceived threats. For individuals with allergies, the sting carries the risk of a severe allergic reaction, though it is not typically fatal to healthy adults.