Top 15 Most Painful Stings in the world (Schmidt sting pain index) 2023

Every species in the world possesses certain defense mechanisms that protect them from predator invasions. From claws to sharp teeth, from horns to stingers, we get to see a diverse list of them in the animal kingdom. Every human on this earth must have been stung or bitten by an insect at some point in his life.

Often, it causes redness with severe itching or pain, but in some cases, it may cause severe allergic reactions and may prove fatal. From the endless list of insects, it is a common query among the general mass as to which insect has the most painful sting.

To answer this, we bring to you a ranked list of theĀ Top 15 Most Painful Stings in the world. The ranking has been made based on their rating on the Schmidt’s Pain Index.

15) Giant Hunting Ant

Giant-Hunting-Ant

The Giant Hunting Ant, also known as the Hairy Panther Ant, is an active hunting species of ants. Usually found in trees, in the canopy layer.Ā This ant has quite a large stinger, with which it can deliver a painful sting.Ā 

The Giant Hunting Ant has a Schmidt’s Pain Index of 2, and the pain may last anywhere between 5-10 minutes.Ā They usually make their colonies in the ground or on decaying logs.

Genus-Ā Neoponera

Scientific name–Ā Neoponera villosa

Location-Ā North America


14) Mexican Honey Wasp

Mexican-Honey-Wasp

Next up on our list of Most Painful Stings in the World, we haveĀ the Mexican Honey Wasp, with a pain Index of 2. Known to cause pain forĀ nearly 5 minutes, the sting of the Mexican Honey Wasp is quite painful.

These wasps generally are in the sizeĀ range of 7-9 mm, andĀ only the females have the stinging organ.Ā The Mexican Honey Wasp, as the name suggests, is among the very few wasp species known to produce honey.

Genus-Ā Brachygastra

Scientific name-Ā Brachygastra mellifica

Location-Ā North and South America


13) Asian Giant Hornet

Asian-Giant-Hornet

The following insect on our list with an excruciating sting is the Asian Giant Hornet, the largest hornet in the world. These species generally occur in theĀ range of 1.5-2 in (45- 52 mm) and 6-8 mm long stinger.Ā The sting causes pain and injects toxic venom, which isĀ neurotoxic.Ā Though a single sting may not be lethal, multiple stings may be enough to cause death.

Genus-Ā Vespa

Scientific name-Ā Vespa Mandarinia

Location-Ā East, South, and Southeast Asia


12) Bulldog Ant

Bulldog-Ant

The Bulldog ants are widely famous for their excruciating stings and venom, which is counted amongĀ the most toxic venoms in the arthropod world.Ā The sting of these ants finds aĀ Schmidt’s Index rating of 2Ā and is described asĀ intense and sharp. Their sizes vary in theĀ range of 8 to 40 mm, with some being among the largest ants in the world.

Genus-Ā Myrmecia

Scientific name-Ā Myrmecia sp.

Location-Ā Australia and New Zealand


11) Trap-Jaw Ant

Trap-jaw-ant

The Trap Jaw ants are popular for their large mandibles, which deliver a potent bite.Ā Schmidt describes the pain to be excruciating, like the snapping of a rat trap on the fingernail. These ants are predatory and can deliver a sting apart from their powerful bite.Ā The pain may last anywhere between 6-10 minutes.

Genus-Ā Odontomachus

Scientific name-Ā Odontomachus sp.

Location-Ā Worldwide, in the tropics and sub-tropical areas


10) Western Yellow Jacket Wasp

Western-Yellow-Jackets

Next up on our list of Most Painful Stings in the world, we have a predatory wasp species,Ā the Western Yellow Jacket. Described asĀ hot and smoky, almost like extinguishing a burning cigar on the skin,Ā the sting of this wasp species has a rating of 2 in the Pain Index.Ā 

The pain may last for nearly 10 minutes or more.Ā Western Yellow Jackets areĀ almost 14 mm long, with the Queens being slightly larger.

Genus-Ā Vespula

Scientific name-Ā Vespula pensylvanica

Location-Ā native to North America


9) Fire Ant

Fire-Ants

When on a trip to a rainforest, it’s not the wild animals that you must be afraid of. Instead, it’s these tiny arthropods, the fire ants, which can bring you to your deathbed.Ā They have a venom-injecting sting coupled with strong mandibles that can deliver a powerful bite.Ā 

Fire ant’s bite may cause redness and itching in the area, which at times mightĀ lead to severe allergic reactions like chest pain, and nausea, which can be fatal if left untreated.

Genus-Ā Solenopsis

Scientific name-Ā Solenopsis sp.

Location-Ā Widespread, in almost all major continents


8) Asian Honey Bee

Honey-Bee

The Asian Honey Bee is one of the most common bees found in South Asia. These bees generally areĀ 10-11 mm in length. The Asian Honey Bee is known for its painful sting, which has aĀ rating of 2 on the Schmidt’s Pain Index. TheĀ sting causes pain, itching, and swelling in the area that may persist for a couple of hours.

Genus-Ā Apis

Scientific name-Ā Apis cerana

Location-Ā native to South, East, and Southeast Asia


7) Maricopa Harvester Ant

Maricopa-Harvester-Ants

Now we have an insect whose venom is the most toxic venom among all insects in the world, the Maricopa Harvester Ant.Ā Schmidt rates the pain of this insect at three and may last for a couple of hours. The bite of a Maricopa Harvester Ant is not only immensely painful but also highly toxic.Ā These ants hold the prey by their mandibles and continue to stingĀ 12 times which can easily kill a 2 kg rat.

Genus-Ā Pogonomyrmex

Scientific name-Ā Pogonomyrmex Maricopa

Location-Ā North American states of California, Colorado, Arizona, etc.


6) Metricus Paper Wasp

Metricus-paper-wasp

On the 6th position, withĀ Schmidt’s Pain Index of 3, we have theĀ Metricus Paper Wasp. You can identify this insect with its characteristic black abdomen and reddish-brown thorax region. It’s a large wasp species, with an averageĀ body length of 20- 35 mm (0.78-1.37 in). The pain of its sting is highly painful and may last up to 3-4 minutes.

Genus-Ā Polistes

Scientific name-Ā Polistes metricus

Location-Ā native to North America


5) Red Paper Wasp

Red-paper-wasp

Next up on our list of Most Painful Stings in the world we have the sting of the red Paper Wasp.Ā With a Schmidt’s Pain Index of 3, the pain is comparable to a drop of superheated oil on the arm.Ā This wasp species gets its name from its rust-colored body. The Red Paper Wasp belongs to the category of large wasps and has a wing length of nearly 18-24 mm.

Genus-Ā Polistes

Scientific name-Ā Polistes carolina

Location-Ā Eastern United States


4) Red Velvet Ant

Red-Velvet-Ant

Often confused with ants, the name Velvet Ant is a misnomer in the biological world.Ā Known for its highly painful sting, which has a rating of 3 in the Schmidt’s Pain Index,Ā the Velvet Ants are wasps.Ā The females of this species are considered more dangerous for their sting, thereby giving this species its nickname,Ā Cow killer.Ā They get their name from the dense velvet-like hair that covers their body.

Genus-Ā Dasymutilla

Scientific name-Ā Dasymutilla occidentalis

Location-Ā North America


3) Warrior Wasp

Warrior-Wasp

Now, it’s time to step into theĀ Schmidt’s Pain Index of 4, with the Warrior Wasp occupying the third position in our list of Most Painful Stings in the world.Ā Schmidt describes the sting of a Warrior Wasp as torturous as if tied to the opening of an active volcano.

These wasps are medium-sized wasps with an average body length of nearly 0.80 in and are often dark in color. In case of a Warrior Wasp sting, make sure you get immediate medical attention.Ā The pain may last for as long as 2 hours.

Genus-Ā Synoeca

Scientific name-Ā Synoeca cyanae

Location-Ā North and Central America, Northern South America, Mexico


2) Tarantula Hawk Wasp

Tarantula-Hawk-Wasp

A large wasp genus with an immensely painful sting has given aĀ Pain Index Rating of 4.Ā The Tarantula Hawk is nearly 2 in (5 cm) in length and gets its name from its Tarantula hunting skills.

Schmidt describes the pain to be blinding and electrifying, thereby making it the second most painful sting in the world. Though the pain is immense, the sting of a Warrior wasp is not life-threatening.Ā The pain may last for 5-10 minutes.

Genus-Ā Hemipepsis

Scientific name-Ā Hemipepsis sp.

Location-Ā Worldwide in the tropical areas


1) Bullet Ant

Bullet-Ant

Bullet Ants possess the most painful sting in the world and are comparable to walking over burning charcoal with a nail inserted into the heel.Ā These ants are nearly 0.7-1.2 in longĀ and are predatory.Ā 

The sting has a 4.0+ rating on the Schmidt’s Pain IndexĀ and isĀ neurotoxic,Ā containing the peptide,Ā PoneratoxinĀ capable of ceasing nerve impulse transmission in the body.

Genus-Ā Paraponera

Scientific name-Ā Paraponera clavata

Location-Ā Central and South American Rainforests

Here, we conclude our list of the Top 15 Most Painful Stings in the world. We intend to bring more of such informative write-ups shortly. We will be back with new post. So, until then, stay tuned.


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