Common name(s): None that I know of. In keeping with the scientific name (tenebris means dark) and location it was discovered from, I might suggest "Singapore dark paper wasp"
Distribution: Currently only known from Singapore, though I would expect that it might also be found in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia
A recently described species, of which I am actually one of the co-describers! It is a fairly uncommon species in Singapore, more commonly found in or at the edge of secondary forests, but occasionally found elsewhere, such as more urban areas or even mangrove swamps, where the closely related Polistes stigma is more common.
This species is very similar to Polistes stigma, both in terms of appearance (apart from the difference in colour, it is about the same size and also has that distinct spot on the forewing) and nesting habits. The nest structure is basically the same. Nests are usually built in trees and shrubs, up to 3m (10 feet) in height.
The two photos below were of a specimen from the first nest I collected; prior to this, I had never managed to collect or photograph individuals of this species. This species is predominantly black, with the femurs of the hind legs red and some yellow markings on the thorax and the first segment of the abdomen.
This was the very first nest I found and collected. I was rather surprised to find it in an ornamental tree in a residential estate!
For the scientific description of this species and other new species from Vietnam in the Polistes stigma group, please refer to: "Taxonomic notes on the Polistes stigma group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Polistinae) from continental Southeast Asia, with descriptions of three new species and a key to species" by Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen, Thuong Thi Vu, John X. Q. Lee and James M. Carpenter, published by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum's (National University of Singapore) Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.