 There are two forms of Polistes exclamans in the United States : typical and variable . The typical form is found in south @-@ eastern United States and inhabits the following states : North Carolina , South Carolina , Georgia , Alabama Florida , Texas , Louisiana , Oklahoma , Arkansas , Kansas , Colorado , and Arizona . Although this form ’ s color can vary , it almost always has some yellow coloring . Both the propodeum and the mesonotum are marked with yellow . The propodeum normally has four yellow stripes , whereas the mesonotum has yellow lines . It also may have yellow markings on its head . The wings , however , are not yellow in color or yellow tinged like some other wasps but are infuscate and purple in color . The typical form often can be confused with Polistes fuscatus , Polistes crinitus , or Polistes minor . The variable form is red @-@ brown in coloring . The middle of the flagellum , the base of the abdominal segments , and the outer side of the mid and hind tibiae are infuscate or black colored , as are the wings . Instead of yellow markings , the variable form has pale ivory @-@ white markings that are dispersed throughout the body . P. exclamans have antennae banded with red , black and yellow , while most paper wasps only have one antennae color . In females , the fore wing length can range from 13 @.@ 0 to 16 @.@ 5 mm ( 0 @.@ 51 – 0 @.@ 65 in ) and in males the fore wings can range from 12 @.@ 0 to 15 @.@ 0 mm ( 0 @.@ 47 – 0 @.@ 59 in ) . The extent of ferruginous markings is variable . 
