Epiponini Mischocyttarini Polistini Ropalidiini The Polistinae is a subfamily of eusocial wasps belonging to the family Vespidae.

They are closely related to the wasps (“yellowjackets” as they are called in North America) and true hornets of the subfamily Vespinae, containing four tribes.

Additionally, some epiponine wasps (such as Polybia emaciata) build their nests out of mud despite being Polistinae.

[3] Polistine brood cells are arranged in a hexagonal array, similar to the comb structure in a honey bee nest.

In the other group, called "swarm-founding", the nest is founded by a large number of workers and a few queens.