Bug FAQPolybia sericea
Polybia sericea · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Eumenidae
Source: Wikipedia
They live in semiarid open areas, forest edges, near rivers and among grasses, trees and shrubs in South America, especially Brazil.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They are dark-colored, fly slowly and are usually docile unless disturbed.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults are about 17 mm long; queens have larger abdomens but smaller heads and wings than workers.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
They are generally docile and do not attack unless provoked.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They prefer semiarid open habitats, forest edges and riverbanks. Grassy areas with trees and shrubs provide good sites for nests and foraging.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae are fed only animal protein supplied by adult workers.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Colonies range from a few individuals to several thousand, typically containing several hundred workers. New colonies are started when the whole colony swarms to a new nest site.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
This tropical social wasp is found in South America, especially throughout Brazil.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
Are Polybia sericea dangerous to people?
They can sting when threatened, which usually causes only a mild reaction.
Source: Wikipedia
What do Polybia sericea look like?
They are dark-colored, fly slowly and are generally docile unless disturbed.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is Polybia sericea found?
It lives in South America, especially throughout Brazil, in semiarid open areas, forest edges and near rivers.
Source: Wikipedia
What does Polybia sericea eat?
Adults eat caterpillars, flies, nectar and fruit, while larvae are fed animal protein by the workers.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Eumenidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polybia_sericea
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.