# The Fascinating World of Insect Stings: Pain, Science, and Adventure
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Chapter 1: The Unexpected Journey of Dr. Justin Schmidt
When many people embark on new hobbies, they often choose activities like knitting, baking, or fishing. For some, the thrill comes from skydiving or white-water rafting. However, Dr. Justin Schmidt elevates the stakes with his unique passion that has even landed him in the emergency room.
Photo by USGS on Unsplash
Dr. Schmidt, who may resemble a long-lost relative of actor William H. Macy, is an entomologist specializing in Hymenoptera—commonly known as stinging ants, wasps, and bees. His journey began in 1973 while he was studying harvester ant colonies alongside his colleague and future wife, Debbie. During their research, both were stung, leading to Debbie describing her pain as “deep ripping and tearing,” akin to someone reaching under the skin to damage muscles and tendons.
This painful encounter ignited a passion in Dr. Schmidt. He noted that the stings from harvester ants were vastly different from those of honey bees, wasps, and hornets, prompting him to delve deeper into the realm of insect stings.
In 1983, he introduced the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, which rates the pain of various insect stings on a scale from “1” (mild) to “4” (extreme). To date, he has cataloged 83 different species and endured over 1,000 stings himself. He likens the experience of a sting to being attacked by a lion, explaining, “How can you possibly defend yourself? You can't just scratch or yell.” Instead, he likens a sting to wielding a powerful weapon against an attacker.
For reference, he ranks the average honey bee sting as a “2” on his scale, making it a useful baseline for comparison. This standardization allows individuals to contextualize their own experiences with stings. As he puts it, “The pain truth comes in two flavors: imagined and realized.”
Section 1.1: The Art of Pain Description
Dr. Schmidt’s Sting Pain Index extends beyond mere numbers. He pairs numerical ratings with poetic descriptions of the pain, allowing readers to visualize the sensations without experiencing them firsthand. He notes, “Most of us don’t think in terms of numbers. We think in images and art.”
This approach adds an artistic layer to his research, making the concept of pain more relatable.
Section 1.2: The Most Painful Stings
One of Dr. Schmidt’s notable findings involves the tarantula hawk, a large wasp whose sting is so intense that he advises anyone stung to simply lie down and scream, as the pain is overwhelming.
Dr. Schmidt seeks to quantify the correlation between the intensity of pain from a sting and the damage it inflicts. He explains, “While it’s easier to assess the damage, there is no meaningful way to measure pain.” He designed the Sting Pain Index for comparisons between species, opting for a four-point scale due to the challenges of distinguishing finer levels of pain.
For example, the Florida harvester ant, which only stings when provoked, scores a “3” on the Schmidt scale, described as “Bold and unrelenting. Somebody is using a power drill to excavate your ingrown toenail.” In contrast, the club-horned wasp receives a score of less than “1,” described as “Disappointing. A paper clip falls on your barefoot.”
Chapter 2: The Science Behind the Stings
Dr. Schmidt emphasizes that he does not seek out pain for pleasure. Instead, he aims to understand the evolution of social behavior in insects. He theorizes that a sting serves as a defense mechanism, particularly when a colony is at risk from predators. The more individuals in a colony and the greater the threat, the more painful the sting and the more toxic the venom.
His research often leads to unintended stings, as he captures insects by hand. When necessary, he provokes them into stinging him, noting that if an insect is reluctant, the sting tends to be less painful.
Surprisingly, many stings have not been as painful as he anticipated, with one of the most shocking instances involving a honey bee that stung his tongue after flying into his mouth.
According to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, the most excruciating sting comes from the bullet ant found in Central and South American rainforests. He rates it a “4+,” describing the sensation as “walking over flaming charcoal with a three-inch rusty nail in your heel.”
His vivid reviews of various stings have inspired others, such as YouTuber Coyote Peterson, who documents his own encounters with painful insect stings and bites, adding a layer of entertainment to the world of entomology.
Amber Blaize, a humor writer with a penchant for the bizarre, reflects on the absurdity of life, often finding humor in the misfortunes of others. Her cat currently manages her professional endeavors, and she aspires to achieve unique milestones, including being recognized in Time Magazine’s “sexiest tech support consultant of the year.”