European paper wasp head. Stacked macrophotograph of the head of a European paper wasp. The European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) is one of the most common species of social wasps in the genus Polistes. Its diet is more diverse than that of most Polistes species giving it superior survival ability compared to other wasp species during a shortage of resources. The image shows the head with the compound eyes, the three ocelli and the first segments of the antennae.