Paper wasps in the genus Polistes are common throughout much of North America, and this one, the northern (or common) paper wasp is frequently found nesting under house roofs where I live in southern California.   They are called 'paper wasps' because they construct their nests out of chewed wood pulp that is formed into a stiff sort of paper (the wasps in these images are gathering wood fibers from an old bench for this purpose).  Although they look dangerous and are rather large wasps, they don't seem particularly aggressive.  Adults feed mainly on plant nectar, but the species is considered insectivorous because they catch many insects as food for their larvae.   These photos were taken in Riverside, California.