Schmidt Pain Index: How bad does that sting REALLY hurt?

In the 1980s, an entomologist posed a question about the order Hymenoptera. This entomologist was named Justin O Schmidt. He wanted to know exactly which species of this order produced the most painful sting, and wanted to be able to describe what different species of this order's sting felt like. He developed the Schmidt Pain Index, which can rank certain species on a scale of 0 to 4. He subjected himself to being stung by countless insects, over 150 species in his lifetime. I would say this makes him an expert on how painful a sting can be.


Here is the Schmidt Pain Index:

Sweat Bee: 

Schmidt Index- 1.0 

Description of the sting: Light, ephemeral, almost fruity. A tiny spark has singed a single hair on your arm. 






Fire Ant: 

Schmidt Index- 1.2 

Description of the sting: Sharp, sudden, mildly alarming. Like walking across shag carpet and reaching for a light switch.

Bullhorn Acacia Ant:

Schmidt Index- 1.8

Description of the sting: A rare, piercing, elevated sort of pain. Someone has fired a staple into your cheek. 

Bald- Faced Hornet:

Schmidt Index- 2.0

Description of the sting: Rich, hearty, slightly crunchy. Similar to getting your hand mashed in a revolving door. 

Yellow-jacket: 

Schmidt Index- 2.0 

Description of the sting: Hot and smoky, almost irreverent. Imagine W.C. Fields extinguishing a  cigar on your tongue.  

Honey Bee and European Hornet:

Schmidt Index- 2.0 

Description of the sting: Like a match head that flips off and burns on your skin. 

Red Harvester Ant:

Schmidt Index- 3.0

Description of the sting: Bold and unrelenting. Somebody is using a drill to excavate your ingrown toenail.




 Paper Wasp: 

Schmidt Index- 3.0 

Description of the sting: Caustic and burning, distinctly bitter aftertaste. Like spilling a beaker of hydrochloric acid on a paper cut. 

Tarantula Hawk: 

Schmidt Index- 4.0

Description of the sting: Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hairdryer has been dropped into your bubble bath.

Bullet Ant 

Schmidt Index: 4.0+

Description of the sting: Pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like fire-walking over flaming charcoal with a 3-inch rusty nail grinding into your heel 






Sounds like Schmidt had a pretty painful life, don't you think? I do not know if I could have done this, even if for the sake of entomology. Props to you, Schmidt. You rock my socks.



** All pictures and details about Schmidt Pain Index come from this link. However, The descriptions, names of insects, and scale number are all credited to the entomologist Justin O. Schmidt. I do not own or take credit for any of this information, pictures, or ideas. **