Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767)

Dvořák, Libor, Roberts, Stuart P. M., Pla, Šumava Np and & Caer, 2006, Key to the paper and social wasps of Central Europe (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 46, pp. 221-244 : 232-233

Polistes gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767)

= P. foederatus Kohl, 1898

Females are similar to P. dominulus by having antennae orange beyond segment 3. For differences separating these two species see above. Males are similar to P. bischoffi , which has clypeus convergent below and temples strongly convergent behind eyes, but both species differ by colouring of antennae – P. gallicus has antennae orange beyond segment 3, while P. bischoffi has antennae distinctly darkened above.

Taxonomic status of this species requires revision. Specimens from southern and southeastern Slovakia belong to a species inhabiting the whole Pannonian plain (A. Cetković, unpubl. data). Thermophilous and halophilous species.