Stings N' Things: The Connoisseur’s Pain Scale to Arizona's Stinging Insects
The Schmidt sting pain index is a pain scale rating (0-4) of the relative pain caused by different hymenopteran stings. It is mainly the work of Justin Schmidt , an adjunct faculty in the UA Department of Entomology. Schmidt has published a number of papers on the subject, and has been stung by the majority of stinging Hymenoptera. This booth highlights his methods and provides pain scale ratings and colorful descriptions of the pain caused by the stinging insects in Arizona. Explore below!
Pain level 1
Palo verde bee – Light and ephemeral, almost furry. A hair was yanked from the back of your neck.
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Arizona native fire ant – Sharp, sudden, mildly alarming. Like walking across a shag carpet and reaching for the light switch.
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Mud dauber wasp – Alarmingly intimidating. Expect the worst: gotcha, you’re still alive.
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Pain level 1.5
Pain level 2.0
Paper wasp – Rich, full bodied, husky. You just dropped a hammer on your big toe.