** Caution: EXTERNAL Sender **
The name of the genus "Polistes" is a Latinized form of the Greek word for
citizen ("polites"), which was selected because of the propensity of the
members of this wasp genus for organizing into colonies.
The name of the species "Metricus" is a Latinized form derived from the
Greek "metron" (measure), which is also the basis of the term "meter,"
used as a basis of the metric system. It is unclear why the adjective was
selected for the wasp species when first described in the middle of the
19th century, but probably relates either to the metrical ratios of the
wasp's body or its measured flight patterns. --Martin Morrison
============
On Tue, 16 Sep 2025, Pierre Abbat via USMA wrote:
Any idea why the metric paper wasp (Polistes metricus) is so called?
Pierre
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