How Do Wasps Sting?
Wasps sting by inserting their stinger into an animal’s skin and pumping venom out of their venom sac using the surrounding muscles.
Wasp stingers are tiny, pointed barbs at the end of the wasp’s abdomen used for stinging. Venom sacs are located inside the abdomen and contain toxic venom that causes the reaction associated with a wasp sting. [1]
Due to the venom that is injected under the skin during the stinging process, wasp stings can be extremely painful. A wasp stings its victim by approaching them, landing on their skin, inserting their stinger quickly, inserting venom, retracting the stinger, and flying away.
Wasp venom is a fairly toxic substance, although it is rarely fatal to humans. A wasp sting typically causes a minor allergic reaction localized to the sting site, which is not cause for alarm.
Occasionally, wasp stings can cause severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylactic shock.
When Do Wasps Sting?
Wasps of all species sting when they feel threatened, whether by humans or other animals. Wasps will readily sting if they are trapped in a house, if someone is trying to catch them, or if they are being killed.
In addition, some predatory wasp species sting their prey in order to paralyze them. Tarantula hawks and great black wasps are examples of this.
Other insects, such as grasshoppers or spiders, are stung by these wasps to paralyze them and then brought back to the nest to feed the wasp’s larvae.
Typically, the female wasp will lay an egg or several eggs on each insect after it has been brought back to its nest.
Upon hatching, the larvae of the wasp begin to feed on the still-living insect, devouring its flesh and drinking its haemolymph. These wasps continue to feed during the larval and pupal stages before emerging as adults[2].
What Do Wasps Sting?
A wasp will sting a human or an animal if it feels threatened. Animals with thin or no hair are easier for wasps to sting, but they will also sting skunks and raccoons if they enter the nest to feed on the larvae or honey.
Additionally, wasps often sting other insects in order to feed their larvae and pupae. Various species of wasps sting tarantulas and other spiders, as well as katydids, grasshoppers, and cicadas. The young of the wasp consume these insects as food.
Can Wasps Sting Multiple Times?
A wasp can sting a victim multiple times. Unlike honey bees, which have barbed stingers which rip off inside their victim when they sting, wasps have smooth, straight stingers.
However, wasps rarely sting unless threatened, so unless provoked, nobody is likely to be stung by one.
Therefore, it is not necessary to be more afraid of wasps than honey bees simply because they can sting more than once.
Because honey bees have honey stores to protect, they are actually more aggressive than many species of wasps.
What Is Wasp Sting Made Of?
The stings of wasps and bees contain a number of chemicals that produce a variety of reactions in the human body.
Melittin is a chemical that causes red blood cells to explode and blood vessels to expand, which is what causes most of the pain associated with a wasp sting. Wasp venom is primarily composed of this chemical.
A second compound found in wasp venom is phospholipase A2, which works together with melittin to create wasp hemolytic factor. As a result, the sting site becomes inflamed and painful.
Apanam increases cell sensitivity, degrading nerve tissue, thereby increasing the venom’s toxicity by increasing the nervous system’s sensitivity.
Hyaluronidase degrades cell tissue, allowing the wasp sting venom to enter cells faster. As a result, the tissue surrounding the wasp sting is more likely to be affected by the reaction.
Histamine causes capillaries to leak and causes inflammation around a wasp sting, which is why one might see red spots around it.
Depending on the species of wasp, there may be more or less information available about their venom. Chemicals may be present in some wasp stings but not in others, and there may also be unknown chemicals present in wasp stings.
Do Wasps Deliver Venom Through Their Stinger?
Wasps deliver venom through their stingers, which is the primary reason why stings are so painful. Wasp sting venom contains a number of chemicals that cause a localized allergic reaction.
In the absence of venom, a wasp sting would be much less painful, more like a pinprick than anything else. Additionally, the venom is responsible for any allergic reaction that may occur, rather than the stinger itself.
Is Wasp Venom Toxic?
Wasp venom is toxic, although it is not typically toxic enough to kill an individual. Wasp venom contains chemicals like melittin, phospholipase A2, and histamine.
By combining these compounds, wasp venom causes red blood cells to explode, cellular membrane phospholipids to rupture, and capillaries to leak[3].
The word ‘toxin’ refers to any poisonous substance produced by living organisms, such as wasps.
Poison is anything that causes harm to the body when ingested and is not necessarily something that causes death, although it is capable of causing it. Was venom is a poisonous substance that is harmful to the body when injected through stings or bites from venomous animals.
What Does a Wasp Sting Look Like?
A wasp sting usually looks like a round, swollen, red mark at the site of the sting. Depending on the severity of the reaction, you may notice hives or welts around the area of the wasp sting.
In some cases, wasp stings can result in swelling of an entire limb or a large area. There may also be a rash. Almost always, wasp stings result in swelling and redness.
What Does It Feel Like to Be Stung by a Wasp?
A person who has been stung by a wasp may experience mild burning sensations to excruciating pain, depending on the species of wasp that stung them.
The Schmidt sting pain index consists of a list of stings and bites ranked from least painful to most painful. As a guide, this can be used to identify potentially adverse reactions to a bite or sting such as a wasp sting.
How Long Does a Wasp Sting Hurt For?
The majority of wasp stings cause pain for about five minutes and can last for a few days or even a week.
A wasp sting results in a swollen red mark that may itch or hurt afterward. In some cases, they can even cause hives that may last for up to a week. An individual’s reaction to a wasp sting depends on the species of wasp.
Are Wasp Stings Dangerous?
In most cases, wasp stings are not particularly dangerous, although they can be uncomfortable. In general, the worst part of a wasp sting is the first five to ten minutes, after which the pain subsides and becomes more manageable.
It should be noted, however, that if one is allergic to wasp venom, wasp stings may pose a very serious health risk. An anaphylactic reaction can cause hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing, as well as a full-body anaphylactic reaction.
In anaphylactic shock caused by a wasp sting, symptoms include severe swelling, difficulty breathing, nausea, hives that are far from the site of the sting, a rapid heart rate, and difficulty swallowing.
An individual who experiences any of these symptoms following a wasp sting should administer their EpiPen immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
Symptoms of a Wasp Sting
A wasp sting is most easily recognized by the immediate pain it causes, followed by swelling and redness. In some cases, swelling caused by wasp stings can extend a considerable distance from the area and cover the entire arm or leg. [4]
At the site of the wasp sting, a swollen red mark may appear that may itch or hurt, as well as swollen red hives. These symptoms are all normal and should not be considered alarming.
In contrast, if a person shows symptoms of anaphylactic shock, or a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or nausea and vomiting, it is advisable to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Can a Wasp Sting Cause Death?
Stings from wasps are only deadly if they are administered many times or if the individual is allergic to wasp stings. From 2000 until 2017 there were only 1,109 deaths from bee, wasp, and hornet stings, which makes the annual average about 62 deaths.[5]
People very rarely die from wasp stings. As children have a lower body mass and are more susceptible to chemicals from wasp stings, they are more likely to die from wasp stings. In spite of this, it is very rare for children to die as a result of wasp stings.
How to Avoid Wasp Sting
The best way to avoid getting stung by a wasp is to leave them alone to carry out their activities. Most wasps will not sting unless they feel threatened, so letting them be and not provoking them is usually enough to avoid getting stung.
The area around or on a person’s house where a wasp nest is located should be avoided. The wasp nest can also be removed if necessary by using wasp spray and removing the nest after all of the wasps have been killed.
Which Species of Wasp Have the Most Painful Sting in the World?
Among all wasps, the tarantula hawk has the most painful sting. A tarantula hawk’s sting is designed to paralyze large spiders, such as tarantulas, and as such delivers powerful venom that causes intense pain.
As far as the level of pain associated with the sting is concerned, Schmidt’s pain index places the tarantula hawk only below the bullet ant.
The stings of yellowjackets, paper wasps, and warrior wasps are also very painful. The tarantula hawk and one species of warrior wasp are ranked as four on Schmidt’s pain index.
Sources
[1] Medical News [2] Colonial Pest [3] PubMed [4] Wikipedia [5] CDC
