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.
Overview[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
- [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[edit | edit source]
It is a measure of the relative pain caused by different types of stinging insects, developed by entomologist Justin Schmidt.
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