This is a small, prettily marked species. It is not often noticed, partly because of its size, but on closer inspection has several points that readily identify it.
Polistes stigma has a mainly brown base colour. The legs and antennae are a lighter colour. The end of the first abdominal segment displays a narrow yellow ring. The last three segments are yellow, inter-marked with brown. The wings are the most distinctive feature; on the edge of each forewing, which are clear, there is a noticeable dark spot. This is one of the smallest Polistes species, reaching merely 14mm on average.
This species has quite a wide distribution in various parts of Asia. It is in fact quite common in Hong Kong but often overlooked due to its small size - watching one fly at a distance, it is easy to mistake it for a Parapolybia species.
This species builds nests in trees, often at much greater heights than other Polistes species, although at times they build lower in small trees or ornamental plants. The nest is usually not very big but contains many cells, and the colonies can get quite large, with more than a hundred wasps not uncommon. Nests start off round like most other species but take on a unique shape, with several distinct lobes on the comb, which curve upwards at the edges, as they mature. Like other Polistes wasps, this species appear to prey mainly on caterpillars.
The photos below were taken in Singapore. I have personally noted three different colour forms within Singapore, each found in its own specific habitat, an unusual thing to find in such a small area. The photos below show the most common form, which is found mainly in mangrove forest habitat. The first two photos copyright and courtesy of E-Trails Singapore.
