We will present results of samples of eusocial paper wasp species richness along an elevational gradient from 500 to 2000 meters in Costa Rica. As part of the ALAS project, sampling effort and methods were standardized among elevations. We found that species richness declined steeply with elevation, but individual abundance of wasps increased with elevation. There was little overlap in species composition among elevations. Swarm-founding species (tribe Epiponini) were significantly more abundant than independent-founding species (genera Polistes and Mischocyttarus), suggesting that they are more ecologically successful.