What is the reddish wasp on my New Hampshire porch?

Almost certainly the native northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus), which has a dark reddish-brown body with narrow yellow bands and black antennae. This is the paper wasp UNH Cooperative Extension describes as 'a common New Hampshire species.' Less commonly, it could be the invasive European paper wasp — but that species has black-and-yellow coloration with distinctive orange antennae, not a reddish-brown body. Both build open, downward-facing umbrella combs with no outer envelope — the defining nest shape of all Polistes paper wasps. For full ID details, sting information, and removal guidance for both NH paper wasps, see our paper wasp page.

What does a red wasp look like?

The true red wasp (Polistes carolina) is one of the largest US paper wasps — 25 to 32 mm in length, with some workers measured closer to 20–25 mm. Its most distinctive feature is a nearly uniform reddish-brown or rust-colored (ferruginous) body with very little yellow or black banding, and dark purplish-black wings. It has the same slender build, narrow petiole, and long dangling legs as all paper wasps, and builds an open umbrella-shaped paper comb in sheltered spots. A second southern species, P. rubiginosus, has a coarser dorsal pattern but otherwise looks nearly identical.

How bad is a red wasp sting?

Like all Polistes paper wasps, the red wasp stings at Schmidt 3.0 on the sting pain index — described by Schmidt as 'caustic and burning, distinctly bitter aftertaste, like spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid on a paper cut.' That is higher than a yellowjacket or honey bee sting (both Schmidt 2.0). Red wasps can sting repeatedly because their stinger is smooth and unbarbed. They are defensive near the nest but not prone to following or attacking at a distance. For sting first-aid guidance and signs of anaphylaxis requiring emergency care, see the Northern New England Poison Center 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222.

Are red wasps dangerous?

Red wasps are defensive social wasps — they will sting if their nest is approached or disturbed, but they do not seek out people. Their sting is genuinely painful at Schmidt 3.0, and they can sting repeatedly. A nest in a high-traffic spot (over a doorway, on outdoor furniture, or near a play area) warrants professional removal. Anyone with a known venom allergy should treat any paper-wasp nest as a medical priority. That said, red wasps are not found in New Hampshire, so if you are a NH homeowner, the defensive reddish wasp near your house is almost certainly a native northern or European paper wasp — covered in detail on our paper wasp page.

What is the difference between a red wasp and a paper wasp?

A red wasp is a paper wasp — specifically the Southern species Polistes carolina and P. rubiginosus. All Polistes are paper wasps. The terms 'red wasp' and 'paper wasp' refer to different levels of the same group: paper wasp is the family-level common name for Polistes (and a few related genera), while red wasp specifically names the rust-colored Southeastern Polistes. In New Hampshire, the paper wasps homeowners encounter are the native northern paper wasp (P. fuscatus, reddish-brown) and the invasive European paper wasp (P. dominula, black-and-yellow with orange antennae) — both paper wasps, but neither a true southern red wasp.

Where do red wasps live?

Red wasps (Polistes carolina and P. rubiginosus) live in the southeastern and south-central United States. Per UF/IFAS, P. carolina ranges from New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania south to Florida, and west to Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, and eastern Texas. They are most abundant in the Deep South — states like Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and Florida. They prefer open or woodland-edge habitats and build their paper nests in sheltered spots such as under eaves, in shrubs, and in wood structures. They do not occur in New Hampshire under normal conditions.

Do red wasps sting multiple times?

Yes. Like all wasps (and unlike honey bees), red wasps have a smooth, unbarbed stinger and can sting the same target repeatedly. Honey bees have a barbed stinger that lodges in skin, tearing loose and killing the bee — wasps have no such limitation. A disturbed red wasp nest will produce workers that sting multiple times. This is one reason professional removal is recommended for active paper-wasp nests in high-traffic areas, rather than DIY knockdown that risks provoking the colony at close range.

Is the European paper wasp a red wasp?

No, though it is a common source of confusion. The European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) is black with bright yellow markings and distinctive orange or reddish antennae — it can look at a glance like a yellowjacket. It does not have the uniform rust-red body of the true southern red wasp (P. carolina). The NH species most commonly mistaken for a 'red wasp' is the native northern paper wasp (P. fuscatus), which has a genuine reddish-brown body coloration. Check the antennae: orange means European paper wasp; black means native northern paper wasp. Neither is the Southern red wasp.

What is a red wasp good for?

Like all Polistes paper wasps, the red wasp is a beneficial predator of caterpillars and soft-bodied insects. Adult workers hunt caterpillars to feed their larvae, making paper wasps generally useful in natural pest control in gardens and orchards. Research on P. carolina colony founding shows that roughly 80 percent of nests are started by a single overwintered foundress queen — making them low-density nesters that rarely pose a property-wide problem in their native range. Their ecological value is a reason pest professionals recommend leaving paper-wasp nests alone when they are in low-conflict spots away from foot traffic.

Daniel Brady · NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664

|Reviewed by Daniel Brady

Red Wasp — ID, Sting & Will You See One in New Hampshire?

Identification

The true 'red wasp' — Polistes carolina and its close relative P. rubiginosus — is a rust-colored paper wasp native to the southeastern and south-central United States. It does not live in New Hampshire. The reddish wasp on a New Hampshire porch or eave is almost always the native northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus), which has a reddish-brown body, or the invasive European paper wasp. Both NH species sting at Schmidt 3.0 — the same as the southern red wasp — and should be removed by a licensed professional if the nest is in a high-traffic area.

Quick facts

True red wasp: Polistes carolina (Southern US)A Southeastern/south-central paper wasp, not a NH species; Wikipedia / UF/IFAS EENY640
NH presence: Effectively absentNH sits north of its core range; reliable NH records are lacking
What you see in NH instead: Northern paper wasp (P. fuscatus) or European paper wasp (P. dominula)Cornell CALS NYS IPM
Size: 25–32 mmOne of the largest US paper wasps; some sources cite 20–25 mm for workers — Wikipedia / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polistes_carolina

True red wasp
Polistes carolina (Southern US)
A Southeastern/south-central paper wasp, not a NH species; Wikipedia / UF/IFAS EENY640
NH presence
Effectively absent
NH sits north of its core range; reliable NH records are lacking
What you see in NH instead
Northern paper wasp (P. fuscatus) or European paper wasp (P. dominula)
Cornell CALS NYS IPM
Size
25–32 mm
One of the largest US paper wasps; some sources cite 20–25 mm for workers — Wikipedia / en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polistes_carolina

Overview

Is the red wasp in New Hampshire? No — and here is what you actually have

If you searched 'red wasp' because you spotted a reddish, paper-wasp-shaped insect on your New Hampshire porch, eave, or grill, this page will give you a straight answer before you go any further: the true red wasp — Polistes carolina and its close relative Polistes rubiginosus — is a Southeastern and south-central United States species. It is uncommon to effectively absent in New Hampshire, and you almost certainly did not see one.

What NH homeowners actually encounter when they see a reddish paper wasp is the native northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus), which has a reddish-brown body with narrow yellow bands, or — less often — the invasive European paper wasp. Both species are genuine New Hampshire residents. Their ID, sting risk, and nest behavior are covered in full on our paper wasp page (link below). This page covers what the true southern red wasp is, how to identify it nationally, why its sting is painful, and why the verdict for New Hampshire is an honest 'not here.'

That directness is the point. Most 'red wasp' pages online write generic national content that implies the species is everywhere. For a NH homeowner, that framing just adds confusion. The reddish wasp on your New Hampshire house has a name and a solution — it is just not Polistes carolina.

Field identification

How to identify a red wasp — and what the reddish wasp in New Hampshire actually is

Red wasps share the same slender Polistes build as all paper wasps — narrow waist, long dangling legs, open umbrella comb. The key visual distinction from most other wasps is the nearly solid rust-red body with minimal banding.

Red wasp (Southern red paper wasp)

Also called: Carolina paper wasp, Red paper wasp

Not found in New HampshireSocialModerate aggression

Scientific name: Polistes carolina (also P. rubiginosus, formerly P. perplexus)
Family: Vespidae — subfamily Polistinae
Sociality: Social (colony)
Size: 25–32 mm (one of the largest US paper wasps; some sources cite 20–25 mm for workers)
Coloration: Nearly uniform reddish-brown or rust-colored (ferruginous) body; very little yellow or black banding; dark purplish-black wings; long dangling legs typical of all Polistes paper wasps
Range: Southeastern and south-central United States — from New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania south to Florida, west to Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, and eastern Texas. Most abundant in the Deep South. Effectively absent in New Hampshire, which sits north of its core range.
Nest style: Open, downward-facing single-layer umbrella paper comb on a stalk, built in sheltered spots such as under eaves, in shrubs, and in wood structures — same architecture as all Polistes paper wasps
Sting: Schmidt 3.0 — 'caustic and burning, distinctly bitter aftertaste, like spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid on a paper cut' (Schmidt / Britannica); higher than a yellowjacket (2.0); can sting repeatedly
Beneficial role: Predator of caterpillars and soft-bodied garden insects; contributes to natural pest control in its native southeastern range

Body coloration

Uniform reddish-brown to rust-red (ferruginous) — the defining feature. Unlike the native NH paper wasp (P. fuscatus), which is reddish-brown with visible yellow bands, or the European paper wasp (P. dominula), which is black-and-yellow, P. carolina has very little contrasting banding. The 'all red' appearance is the fastest ID cue.

Wings

Dark purplish-black — notably darker than the brown/amber wings of most NH paper wasps. At rest, wings fold lengthwise along the body.

Waist (petiole)

Conspicuously narrow and elongated — the hallmark of all Polistes paper wasps. More pronounced than on yellowjackets or hornets.

Legs

Long and slender; hang visibly below the body in flight ('dangling legs'). This is the in-flight ID cue shared by all paper wasps and distinguishes them from stocky, legs-tucked yellowjackets.

Common look-alikes

Northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) — the NH look-alike
How to tell: The native northern paper wasp is the reddish-brown wasp NH homeowners almost always mistake for a 'red wasp.' P. fuscatus has a dark reddish-brown body but shows visible narrow yellow bands on the abdomen and cinnamon abdominal markings — it is not the solid rust-red of P. carolina. It also has black antennae. If you are in New Hampshire, the reddish paper wasp on your eave is P. fuscatus — see the paper wasp page for full ID and removal guidance.
European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) — the NH cavity nester
How to tell: The European paper wasp is black with bright yellow markings and distinctive orange or reddish antennae — the only North American social wasp with orange antennae. Its body is not reddish-brown; it looks more like a yellowjacket. It is commonly found in NH on soffits, grills, pipes, and man-made cavities. Orange antennae = European paper wasp; reddish-brown body = northern paper wasp. Neither is the Southern red wasp.
Polistes rubiginosus (coarse-backed red wasp)
How to tell: P. rubiginosus is the sister species to P. carolina — both are rust-red Southern paper wasps. P. rubiginosus has a coarser, more textured dorsal surface on the abdomen compared to P. carolina's finer surface. Both are absent in New Hampshire and are southeastern species. LSU AgCenter documents the distinction for the Deep South region where both occur.

Common Questions

Frequently asked

References

Sources & further reading (10)

[1]
Wikipedia — Polistes carolina
encyclopedia · P. carolina size 25–32 mm; range NY/OH/PA south to FL, west to TX/NE; dark purplish-black wings; two southern red species · verified Jun 2026
[2]
UF/IFAS Featured Creatures — Polistes carolina (EENY640)
extension · P. carolina range; 'most commonly associated with the eastern and south-central United States'; Deep South abundance · verified Jun 2026
[3]
LSU AgCenter — Red Paper Wasps
extension · Two southern red wasp species: P. carolina (fine-backed) vs P. rubiginosus (coarse-backed) · verified Jun 2026
[4]
PLOS ONE — Nest foundress number in Polistes carolina
academic · Approximately 80% of P. carolina nests founded by a single foundress · verified Jun 2026
[5]
Cornell CALS NYS IPM — Identifying Bees and Wasps
extension · NH reddish wasps are almost always P. fuscatus (native northern paper wasp), not P. carolina; antenna coloration as ID cue · verified Jun 2026
[6]
Britannica — Schmidt Sting Pain Index
encyclopedia · Paper wasp (all Polistes) Schmidt 3.0; verbatim description 'caustic and burning…' · verified Jun 2026
[7]
Wikipedia — Schmidt Sting Pain Index
encyclopedia · Index history; paper wasp 3.0; yellowjacket 2.0; only bullet ant / tarantula hawk / warrior wasp at 4.0 · verified Jun 2026
[8]
UNH Cooperative Extension — Controlling Wasps, Bees and Hornets Around Your Home
extension · Northern paper wasp (P. fuscatus) as 'a common New Hampshire species'; NH overwintering biology · verified Jun 2026
[9]
Penn State Extension — European Paper Wasp
extension · Polistes dominula orange antennae unique among NA social wasps; invasive spread in Northeast; P. fuscatus vs P. dominula ID · verified Jun 2026
[10]
Northern New England Poison Center
medical · 24/7 poison control for NH/ME/VT; 1-800-222-1222 · verified Jun 2026

Written & reviewed by

Verified

Daniel Brady

NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664 (NHDAMF, RSA 430)

Daniel Brady is the New Hampshire–licensed applicator behind Anchor Pest Services, a family-owned pest control company serving the Manchester area since 2017.

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Last updated Jun 2026

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