Summertime is just around the corner and although the world is being held hostage by the Coronavirus, there might be bigger problems to worry about. We’re all aware of the new infestation of the Asian “Murder Hornets” in America. But besides destroying our honey population, how dangerous are they to humans? Thank you baby Jesus there are people like Dr. Justin Schmidt and Nathan “Coyote” Peterson that risk their bodies so we know what to prepare for with stinging insects.

The Pain Index of Stinging Insects

Dr. Schmidt has even taken his entire sting and bite experiences and categorized them into a Pain Index rating. This scale lists each insect’s ability to jack you up and ruin that quarantine free nature walk. For example, a Pain Index Rating of 1 is something along the lines of a Sweat Bee; it’s slightly annoying, but nothing to cry about. A common Yellow jacket sting is normally on a pain level 2, while most wasps fall into a level 3 pain rating. 

Then we get into the big leagues. Anything in Schmidt’s Pain Level 4 category will have Chuck Norris crying for his mommy. These are the insects that were put on this Earth to remind us who’s really in charge. We’ve ranked this top tier of death dealers in order of excruciating pain and even gave you a little snippet of what Hell actually feels like! Enjoy!

5) Tarantula Hawk

• Location: Southwest United States. It’s the actual state insect of New Mexico.
• Pain Description: “Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair dryer has just been dropped into your bubble bath.”
• Good News: The pain only lasts about five minutes and they prefer killing giant spiders rather than humans. 

4) Bullet Ant

• Location: Tropical forests of Central and South America
• Pain Description: “Pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like walking over a flaming charcoal with a 3-inch nail embedded in your heel.”
• Good News: The burning and throbbing pain will only last 24 hours. Most victims say the pain is the equivalent to getting shot. 

3) Warrior Wasp

• Location: Mexico, Central and South America
• Pain Description: “Torture. You are chained in the flow of an active volcano.”
• Good News: Pain from the sting will only last around two hours. Oh, and they are very aggressive and love to attack humans.

2) Murder Hornet

• Location: Asia and recently North America
• Pain Description: “Absolute searing pain. It feels like someone has shoved a red-hot poker into your arm and does not remove it for close to six hours”
• Good News: Pain normally lasts for a day-and-a-half and this species kills up to 50 people a year. 

1) Executioner Wasp

• Location: Tropical forests of Central and South America
• Pain Description: “Immediate fiery, throbbing pain that just doesn’t stop. Known to put its victims into shock. Some describe the feeling as your flesh getting peeled off your body.”
• Good News: There really is none. Many locals carry a pistol with them when in the jungle, just incase multiple wasps sting them at one time. You can figure out why.

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