About Polybia sericea (Olivier, 1792)
Polybia sericea (Olivier, 1792) individuals are medium-sized wasps, approximately 17 mm in length. They are dark in color, generally slow-flying and docile unless disturbed. Queens typically have larger abdomens, and smaller heads and wings compared to workers. Workers construct enclosed, multitiered, roughly spherical nests from carton, a paper maché-like pulp made of chewed plant fibers mixed with saliva. These nests are reddish-brown and not very large. Nests are usually built 2 to 5 meters above ground, in the branches of trees or shrubs. P. sericea is native to South America, and is commonly found across Brazil. A large population of this species lives in the lower tropical Amazon region of Brazil. It typically inhabits semiarid climates, in open areas, around forest edges, and near rivers. This species prefers areas with grasses, trees, and shrubs, likely because these locations provide good sites for nest building and foraging.
