Scientists rank the pain of stinging insects – and the worst is like ‘the flow an active VOLCANO’

PAIN LEVEL – 1

Red fire ant

Scientific name: Solenopsis invicta

Native House: South America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: Sharp, sudden, mildly alarming. Like walking on a deep pile carpet and reaching for the light switch.’

Description: The venom of the red fire ant plays an important role in a colony, as it is used to capture prey or for defense.

About 95% of the poison components are water-insoluble piperidine alkaloids, and it has been shown to be potent in sensitive people.

A sting from this insect will result in small, itchy nodules that last for about 30 minutes to an hour, which will eventually turn into small filled blisters.

PAIN LEVEL – 1.5

Western cicada killer

Scientific name: Sphecius grandis

Native House: North America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: Pain at first sight. Like poison oak, the more you rub, the worse it gets.’

Description: Western cicada killers use their venom primarily to paralyze cicadas, which are a favorite treat for their young.

Females can capture about four or more for supplies, place them in brood cells, and lay eggs in the cells.

Despite their large size, as they are considered the largest wasps in California, their sting has been reported to range between merely numbing and pungent to moderate.

PAIN LEVEL – 2

Western honey bee

Scientific name: Apis mellifera

Native House: Africa and Europe

Schmidt’s description of the pain: “Burning, biting, but you can handle it. A burning match lands on your arm and is extinguished first with lye and then with sulfuric acid.’

Ddescription: There is a misconception that western honey bees die as soon as they use their only method of attack, but their stinger is designed to simply pull away from the body when it gets stuck.

It has a stinger and venom sac that allows it to release venom even after the stinger is detached.

These stings can be quite painful and for some who are allergic, they are life threatening.

The initial pain eventually subsides, but only after a period of swelling and itching.

Some people may experience visible signs, including redness of the skin around the sting.

Western yellow jacket

Scientific name: Vespula pensylvanica

Native House: North America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: “Hot and smoky, almost irreverent. Imagine WC Fields extinguishing a cigar on your tongue.’

Ddescription: Western yellowjackets usually do not use their stingers unless a violent fight is taking place or they feel their nest is under threat.

Because this species lives in colonies and poses a greater threat to humans, western yellow jackets are kept under control during outbreaks.

The recommended treatment for stings is antihistamine ointments and tablets to reduce reactions.

PAIN LEVEL – 2.5

Fierce black polybia wasp

Scientific name: Polybia simillima

Native home: Central America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: ‘A ritual gone wrong, satanic. The gas lamp in the old church explodes in your face when you light it.’

Description: The fierce black polybia wasp builds multi-tiered nests and colony size can vary widely from a few workers to several thousand.

Caterpillars are the most common prey for these creatures, which the worker hunts and bites them in the back of the head.

The wasps then drag the body to another location to prevent other insects from stealing their prey.

Once the insect is in a safe place, the wasp will malax or soften the prey by mixing it with a thinner substance, presumably saliva.

PAIN LEVEL – 3

Velvet ant

Scientific name: Dasymutilla klugii

Native House: North America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: “Explosive and prolonged, you sound insane as you scream. Hot oil from frying runs all over your hand.’

Description: While velvet ants are not aggressive, they pack a painful punch.

This species belongs to a family that includes a number of wasp species and is also known as the ‘cow-killer ant’.

Their sting results in an intense pain that can last up to 30 minutes, but the venom injected into the victim is not poisonous or fatal to humans or other animals.

Florida Harvester ant

Scientific name: Pogonomyrmex badius

Native House: North America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: “Bold and unrelenting. Someone is using a power drill to dig out your ingrown toenail.”

Description: The Florida harvester ant is not aggressive and should almost be forced to sting someone.

However, the sting is one of the most painful of ants and the pain lasts longer than usual for ant stings due to the venom injected.

Some swelling may occur in response to their stings, which may spread along the lymphatic channels.

There is one harvester ant, known as the Maricopa harvester ant, which is found in Arizona and is said to be the most venomous insect venom in the world.

PAIN LEVEL – 4

Tarantula hawk wasp

Scientific name: Pepsis spp.

Native House: North America, Central America and South America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A walking hair dryer just dropped into your bubble bath.”

Pain Level: 4

Description: Tarantula hawk wasps have an excruciating sting, but it only lasts about three minutes.

Victims have described the pain as being electrocuted, leading to a few minutes of hell.

Females attack tarantulas and usually leave humans alone.

This creature paralyzes the deadly spider with a single sting and drags it to its lair.

There it lays an egg that hatches into a larva and eats the paralyzed, still living spider over the course of several weeks.

Bullet ant

Scientific name: Paraponera clavata

Native House: Central America and South America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: “Pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like walking on burning charcoal with a 3-inch nail in your heel.”

Pain Level: 4

Description: The sting of the bullet ant is said to cause a burning and throbbing pain that lasts up to 24 hours – some victims have said the pain is equivalent to being shot.

The venom contains ponera toxin, which affects voltage-gated sodium ion channels and blocks synaptic transmission in the central nervous system.

Warrior wasp

Scientific name: Synoeca septentrionalis

Native House: Central America and South America

Schmidt’s description of the pain: ‘Torture. You are chained in the flow of an active volcano. Why did I start this list?’

Pain Level: 4

Description: The Warrior wasp is known for its aggressive behavior and extremely painful sting that can last up to two hours

A well-known characteristic of this species is that when threatened, they rhythmically flap their wings against their bodies in a perfect form that produces a sound like soldiers marching.