Quick Answer
Wasps can sting multiple times because their stingers are smooth and can slide in and out of the victim easily. Unlike honey bees, wasps do not have barbed stingers that get stuck in the skin. The number of stings largely depends on the species of wasp, how much they are aggravated, and where the person is stung. On average, wasps can sting 3-10 times, with the venom injected being the real danger rather than the number of stings. Some people may have severe allergic reactions from just 1 or 2 stings.
Overview of Wasp Stings
Wasps have needle-like stingers that inject venom into their victims. They use their stingers to paralyze prey and defend their nests when threatened. When a wasp stings, it injects a toxin called apitoxin. Some of the common effects of wasp stings include:
- Instant, sharp pain at the sting site
- Redness, swelling, itching around the sting
- Bleeding, puncture mark where stung
- Mild nausea, headache, dizziness
For most people, wasp stings cause temporary discomfort but are not serious. The pain and swelling usually go away within a few hours. However, multiple stings or stings in sensitive areas like the throat can result in life-threatening complications. Those allergic to wasp venom can go into anaphylactic shock from just 1 or 2 stings.
Number of Stings Based on Species
Different wasp species have different tendencies when it comes to stinging. Some key factors are:
Defensiveness
How aggressive or defensive a wasp is depends largely on how their nest or territory is threatened. More defensive species will sting repeatedly to ward off intruders.
Size of Wasp
Larger wasp species can inject more venom with each sting, making them more dangerous than smaller wasps.
Solitary vs. Social Wasps
Social wasps like yellowjackets can sting relentlessly when their nest is disturbed. Solitary wasps are less likely to sting multiple times.
Here are some common stinging tendencies based on wasp species:
| Wasp Species | Number of Stings |
|---|---|
| Yellowjacket | 5-10 average stings |
| Paper wasp | 1-2 stings |
| Tarantula hawk wasp | 1 painful sting |
| Cicada killer | 1-3 stings |
| Hornet | Multiple stings, more venomous |
Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets are highly defensive wasps that swarm when provoked. They can sting multiple times, with some victims receiving over 50 stings. On average, yellowjackets sting around 5-10 times.
Paper Wasps
Paper wasps are relatively docile and not as aggressive as yellowjackets. They tend to only sting once or twice in defense before retreating. Their stings are painful but the venom amount is lesser.
Tarantula Hawks
Tarantula hawks deliver one extremely painful sting with potent venom. The sting causes temporary paralysis and intense pain that peaks after 5 minutes but can last 2-3 hours. They do not sting repeatedly.
Cicada Killers
Male cicada killer wasps are harmless and cannot sting. Female cicada killers can sting but rarely do so unless handled roughly. At most, they may sting 1-3 times in defense. Their stings produce a mild burning sensation.
Hornets
Hornets are larger than other wasps and can inflict multiple stings that deliver huge doses of venom. Their stings are more painful and dangerous compared to other stinging insects. Hornets aggressively defend their nests when disturbed.
Variables that Affect Number of Stings
Some key factors that influence how many times a wasp can sting include:
Proximity to Wasp Nest
Accidentally disturbing a wasp nest often leads to the highest number of stings, sometimes 100+ stings. The closer a person is to a nest, the more aggressive the defensive attack.
Step On or Swat at a Wasp
Purposely swatting at or stepping on a wasp is guaranteed to provoke it into stinging immediately and releasing alarm pheromones to call other wasps to sting as well.
Peacefully Passing By vs. Making Threatening Movements
Walking calmly past some solitary wasps may allow you to avoid being stung at all. However, swatting or waving your arms around near wasps puts them on high alert and can trigger multiple stings.
Health of Wasp
Wasps near the end of their natural lifespan in fall have less energy to expend on stinging. Weaker wasps may only sting once or not at all before dying.
Clothing and Exposure
Light, exposed skin is more vulnerable to stings compared to thicker clothing coverage. Wearing dark colors also provokes wasps less compared to light colors which wasps instinctively attack.
Weather Conditions
Heat and drought stress wasps and make them more short-tempered and likely to sting. Cool, calm weather keeps them more docile.
Most Ever Stings Suffered by One Person
The Guinness World Record for the most wasp stings endured intentionally by a single person within a period of 24 hours is 113,890 stings. This incredible record was achieved by R.L. Blaylock of the USA in Leesburg, Florida in September 1997.
To intentionally get stung, Blaylock donned a beekeeping jacket and mesh hood before sticking his right hand into a container with dozens of enraged yellowjackets. His left hand counted the stings by clicking a counter. He took antihistamines during the attempt to avoid suffering fatal anaphylactic shock.
This experiment was purely to test human limits and is not recommended. Surviving over 100,000 wasp stings is highly improbable for most people.
World’s Most Painful Wasp Stings
Here are some of the most painful wasp stings in the world:
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
The tarantula hawk wasp has one of the most painful stings on the 0-4 insect sting pain index, ranking a 4. Their stings produce instant, electric, throbbing pain and localized swelling. The intense pain lasts about 3 minutes but can be felt for several hours.
Warrior Wasp
The warrior wasp (Synoeca septentrionalis) earns its name from its aggressive nest defense behavior. It relentlessly attacks any intruders, stinging repeatedly with a potently painful venom. Their stings cause burning pain, swelling, and redness lasting 24 hours.
Bullet Ant
The bullet ant sting also ranks a 4 on the insect sting pain scale. Their venom contains a toxin called poneratoxin that causes throbbing, pulsating pain likened to being shot by a bullet. The pain peaks within 5 minutes but can last 24 hours.
Jack Jumper Ant
Jack jumper ants belong to the genus Myrmecia and are found in Australia. Their incredibly painful stings can last over a day. They are capable of stinging repeatedly and inflicting over 100 stings if provoked. Each sting causes a burning sensation, sweating, nausea, and headaches.
Most Venomous Wasp Species
Some wasps deliver more potent venom than others. Here are a few of the most venomous wasp species:
Asian Giant Hornet
The Asian giant hornet has one of the most toxic venoms in the wasp world. They can squirt venom from their stingers into prey’s eyes, dissolving eye tissue and causing permanent blindness. Their stings can kill humans allergic to their venom.
Tarantula Hawk
Despite delivering only one sting, the tarantula hawk wasp injects extremely venomous toxin that paralyzes its spider prey. Their stings cause extreme pain that peaks after 5 minutes but can last several hours.
Paper Wasp
Paper wasps may not be as intimidating as hornets but their venoms contain high concentrations of acetylcholine toxic to humans. Their stings are intensely painful.
Yellowjacket
Yellowjackets deliver multiple stings and inject venom containing acetylcholine and mast cell degranulating (MD) peptide that can overstimulate the human nervous system. They account for most wasp stings requiring medical treatment each year.
Number of Human Deaths Per Year from Wasp Stings
Fatalities from wasp, bee, and hornet stings are very rare, estimated at 51-100 deaths per year in the U.S. The number of deaths specifically from wasps alone is unknown but likely less than 20-30 per year nationwide.
Around 90% of deaths occur in people who suffered anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest from hypersensitivity to the venom. Those who are severely allergic are at greatest risk of dying from just 1 or 2 stings.
However, the vast majority of people have non-life threatening reactions to wasp stings if they receive proper first aid and medical care when needed. Only about 3% of adults and up to 7% of children have systemic allergic reactions to hymenoptera (wasp, bee, hornet) stings requiring medical treatment.
Treatments for Wasp Stings
Here are some basic first aid tips for treating wasp stings:
- Remove the stinger if still lodged in skin by scraping with a credit card or using tweezers.
- Wash the sting area with soap and water to remove traces of venom.
- Apply a cold pack to relieve swelling and pain.
- Take antihistamine containing diphenhydramine to counteract venom effects.
- Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief.
- Monitor for signs of allergic reaction like rash, hives, trouble breathing.
- Seek emergency care if you have multiple stings or systemic symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Severe reactions causing difficulty breathing, throat swelling or low blood pressure require immediate emergency medical care, epinephrine injection, and hospitalization to avoid fatality.
Those with minor reactions can take oral corticosteroids for 2-3 days after the sting to reduce inflammation and pain. Topical hydrocortisone creams may also help decrease swelling at the sting site. Most symptoms resolve within 24-48 hours with proper treatment.
Prevention of Wasp Stings
Some tips for avoiding wasp stings include:
- Avoid areas where you see wasp nests or swarming activity.
- Stay calm and still if you notice nearby wasps rather than swatting at them.
- Wear light-colored, smooth fabrics that do not provoke wasps.
- Avoid wearing sweet smelling perfumes or lotions that may attract wasps.
- Keep food and drink covered or indoors.
- Wear shoes outside to avoid stepping on wasps in grass.
- Install screens on windows and doors to prevent wasps getting indoors.
- Seal cracks, holes, and crevices on outdoor walls that wasps can enter.
- Inspect eaves, roofs, sheds regularly for signs of new nests and have them removed by a professional.
Removing wasp nests is best left to trained pest control experts. Do not attempt to kill wasps or remove nests yourself without proper protective gear.
Conclusion
In summary, wasps can sting multiple times because their stingers are smooth and easily retractable. Different wasp species have different stinging tendencies based on how defensive they are. Factors like proximity to a nest and threatening movements also impact stinging frequency. On average, wasps sting 3-15 times with yellowjackets delivering the most stings. While the number of stings is not usually life-threatening, the venom amount injected is what poses real danger. Seek emergency care immediately if you experience signs of allergic reaction or anaphylaxis after being stung. Stay calm, avoid sudden movements, and keep away from nests to prevent being stung by wasps when spending time outdoors.