Schmidt sting pain index

The Schmidt Sting Pain Index is a pain scale rating the relative pain caused by different Hymenoptera stings. It is mainly the work of entomologist Justin O. Schmidt, who began the index purely as a comparison of the Hemipepsis (tarantula hawk) sting to other Hymenoptera stings.

Schmidt - Filippo Turetta

Overview

The Index originally rated 78 species of Hymenoptera but has expanded to include 83. The pain scale is divided into four levels, with 4 being the most painful. However, the vast majority of Hymenoptera stings are in the level 2 category.

Pain Levels

• Level 1: Examples include the Sweat bee, which produces a light, ephemeral, almost fruity pain. A tiny spark has singed a single hair on your arm.
• Level 2: Examples include the Bald-faced hornet and the Bullhorn acacia ant. The pain is intense and sharp.
• Level 3: Examples include the Paper wasp and the Harvester ant. The pain is severe and typically has a burning quality.
• Level 4: Examples include the Bullet ant and the Tarantula hawk. The pain is typically described as blinding, fierce, and shockingly

electric.

Criticisms

The Schmidt Sting Pain Index has been criticized for its subjective nature, as it is based on one man's personal experience and self-reporting of pain. Furthermore, it doesn't account for differences in sensitivity to venom among different individuals.

References

• [1] Schmidt, J. O. (1990). Hymenopteran venoms: striving toward the ultimate defense against vertebrates. In D. L. Evans, & J. O. Schmidt (Eds.), Insect Defenses: Adaptive Mechanisms and Strategies of Prey and Predators (pp. 387–419). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
• [2] Schmidt, Justin O. (1986). Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Chemical Ecology of Ant Venoms. In Piek, Tom (ed.). Venoms of the Hymenoptera: Biochemical, Pharmacological and Behavioral Aspects. London: Academic Press. pp. 425–508.

Summary

It is a measure of the relative pain caused by different types of stinging insects, developed by entomologist Justin Schmidt.

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