In a surprising event, Dr. Justin Schmidt, an expert in insects, embarked on an extraordinary quest to discover the most painful insect stings.
He personally experienced the bites and stings of nearly 80 different insect species to find out which hurt most.
Dr. Justin Schmidt tested himself with bites from 80 different insect species to find the most painful one.
A scientist conducted a fascinating experiment in which he willingly exposed himself to the stings and bites of almost 80 different types of insects.
The purpose was to create a thorough "pain index" and identify the insects that cause the most intense agony.
Dr. Justin Schmidt, an entomologist, bravely embarked on a daring venture, and firmly believed that personal experience was essential to fully grasp the pain inflicted by these insects.
Dr. Schimidt created a scale to measure the pain level from the stings of 83 insect species
Dr. Schmidt meticulously documented the sensations and effects of the stings and bites from 83 different insect species, including bees, wasps, and ants.
He developed a pain scale ranging from one to four, which assessed the severity and intensity of the pain experienced.
While common wasps or honey bees were rated at a moderate level of pain (two on the scale), only three species managed to reach the highest level of pain (four).
Dr. Schmidt's observations went beyond a simple numerical rating of pain. He demonstrated the sensations using vivid imagery and powerful comparisons.
Insects that Dr.Schmidt considers to have the most painful stings
For instance, he likened the sting of the Western Yellowjacket to a sensation of heat and smoke, while the pain caused by fire ants was compared to the feeling of walking on a shaggy carpet and reaching for a light switch.
However, the true stars of Dr. Schmidt's pain index were the insects at the highest level of pain.
One such insect is the Bullet Ant, aptly named because its sting feels like being shot.
Dr. Schmidt described the pain as "pure, intense, brilliant pain," comparable to walking over flaming charcoal with a nail embedded in your heel.
Joining the Bullet Ant at level four are two species of wasps.
The Tarantula Hawk Wasp, which paralyzes tarantulas and lays eggs inside them, delivers a sting that Dr. Schmidt likened to a strong, dazzling, and shockingly electric sensation.
He compared it to the feeling you would get if a running hairdryer accidentally fell into your bubble bath.
Finally, the Warrior Wasp inflicts a sting that Dr. Schmidt vividly described as "torture," evoking the imagery of being chained amidst the scorching lava of an active volcano.
