Straight answerPaper wasps are slim wasps that fly with their long legs hanging down. In Auckland the one you will usually see is the Asian paper wasp, first recorded here in 1979. They build open, umbrella-shaped combs on a short stalk in shrubs, hedges, fences and under eaves. Colonies are small, but they defend the comb and can sting more than once.
How to identify a paper wasp
Look at the shape and the way it flies. Paper wasps have a long, slender body with a thin waist, and they dangle their long hind legs in flight. The Asian paper wasp is reddish-brown to black with yellow rings and amber-tinted wings, about 12 to 15 millimetres long. German wasps look stockier, brighter yellow, and tuck their legs up.
Which paper wasps live in New Zealand?
New Zealand has no native social wasps. Landcare Research counts three introduced Polistes species. The Asian paper wasp arrived in Auckland in 1979 and spread across the upper North Island. The Australian paper wasp (Landcare calls it the Tasmanian paper wasp) arrived much earlier and mostly stays in the north of the North Island. The European paper wasp is the most recent arrival, and where it has spread is still being mapped.
| Species | Where in NZ | Look |
|---|---|---|
| Asian paper wasp (Polistes chinensis) | Upper North Island including Auckland, now as far south as Otago | Reddish-brown to black, yellow rings, amber wings |
| Australian paper wasp (Polistes humilis) | Mostly Northland and the upper North Island | Similar shape, same umbrella nest |
| European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) | Recent arrival, range still being mapped | Same open comb |
What a paper wasp nest looks like
A paper wasp nest is a single layer of six-sided paper cells with no outer covering, so you can see straight into the cells. It hangs from a short stalk like an upside-down umbrella. Most are about 8 centimetres across and some reach 20. The Department of Conservation compares them to the size of a pear.
Where paper wasps nest
Always above ground, in sheltered spots. Common sites are dense shrubs and hedges, under fence rails, on walls, under decks and overhanging eaves, and inside sheds. Asian paper wasps can build a lot of nests in a small area: Landcare Research records more than 200 nests per hectare in open lowland country. If you find one, look for more. Nests in hedges, trees and sheds and nests under eaves.
Do paper wasps sting?
Yes. Paper wasps defend their nest and can sting more than once, and most stings happen when someone trims a hedge or brushes past a comb without seeing it. Colonies are small, so a stinging incident usually involves fewer wasps than with a German wasp nest. For first aid and the warning signs of an allergic reaction, see our wasp sting guide.
Are paper wasps good or bad?
Both. They eat caterpillars and other insects, plus nectar and honeydew, so some gardeners like them. They also compete with native insects and birds for that food. A small comb high up and away from people can be left. One by a door, path or play area is worth dealing with. How nest removal works.
Questions people ask
Are paper wasps aggressive?
Less so than German wasps, but they will defend their comb. Most stings come from bumping into a nest hidden in a hedge or under a rail. Paper wasp colonies hold hundreds of wasps at most, against thousands in a German wasp nest, so a disturbed paper wasp nest is a smaller problem, though still painful.
Do paper wasps die in winter?
Paper wasp colonies are seasonal and wind down after summer, with new combs started the following spring. We could not find an authoritative New Zealand source giving exact months for paper wasps, so check hedges, fences and eaves for small new combs from spring onwards.
Will Vespex bait kill paper wasps?
No. Paper wasps hunt live caterpillars for protein and ignore the bait, according to the maker's guidance. Vespex is designed for German and common wasps only. Paper wasp combs are treated directly instead.
What is a mahogany wasp?
We could not find any New Zealand source that uses the name. People searching for it are often describing a reddish-brown wasp, which in Auckland is most likely an Asian paper wasp. If you are not sure, compare the nest: an open comb you can see into means paper wasps.
Sources we checked
- Asian paper wasp (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research)
- Asian paper wasp nest (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research)
- Tasmanian (Australian) paper wasp (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research)
- Vespula wasps (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research)
- Asian paper wasp (Hawke's Bay Regional Council)
- Wasps (Department of Conservation)
- Vespex FAQ (Merchento)
Last reviewed 2026-10-06.