The Polistes species in northern Europe (Hymenoptera : Vespidae)

Records of Polistes nimpha (Christ, 1791) (P. opinabilis Kohl, 1898) from F inland, Russian Karelia, the Baltic countries and some adjacent areas, thos e of P. biglumis (L. 1758) from Scandinavia and those of P. dominulus (Chri st, 1791) (P. gallicus auct.) from the Baltic countries are mapped. The dis tribution of P. biglumis is boreomontane; in Scandinavia the range is disju nct and recent nesting records in the province of Norrbotten in Sweden (abo ut 66 degrees N) are the northernmost of all Polistes species in the world. The northern habitats of P. biglumis in Sweden are open areas of stony gro und about 150 m above sea level. The stones store insolating warmth and the microclimatic conditions are suitable for development of the brood on open combs. P. dominulus is expanding its range northwards in Europe. Nomenclat ure, colour variation and diagnostic characters of the three Polistes speci es are treated.