Paper wasps are a diverse tropical group within the family Vespidae, and their social behavior and complicated nest architecture have been the subjects of considerable study. Dr. James Carpenter proposes an analysis of the evolution and classification of the species in the Polybia genus-group. The study will use a combination of adult characters revealed by electron microscopy, larval morphology, and nest architecture. New approaches to data analysis will result in a reconstruction of the group's evolutionary relationships. Taxonomic keys and guides to identification will also be produced. An evolutionary classification of the paper wasps would have impact beyond the confines of taxonomic specialists. Dr. Carpenter proposes to construct the framework on which a variety of behavioral, biogeographic, and functional hypotheses can be tested. This study will open the door to a diverse array of comparative research projects.
