Polistes stigma: Native Paper Wasp of Southeast Asia

These photos were taken by me in a meadow near the Pusong reservoir. I just found out that paper wasps not only like flower nectar, but they also eat panicles on grass flowers. As in the photos below, you can see a paper wasp biting grass panicles.

This is Polistes stigma, a species of paper wasp native to southeast Asia belonging to the family Vespidae. Some species of paper wasps have several bands on the abdomen, but Polistes stigma has only one bright yellow band on the abdomen, while a pale brown color dominates the rest of the body, including the eyes.

Polistes stigma live in small colonies and build small nests attached to leaves or grass. Are they dangerous? I don't think so. I have approached them several times while they were in their nest. They are not the aggressive type of wasps, unless you touch them they will definitely sting you.