from Hacker News

The Schmidt insect sting pain index

by a5withtrrs on 1/25/21, 2:09 PM with 8 comments

• by cs702 on 1/25/21, 2:23 PM

  > Schmidt has published a number of papers on the subject, and claims to have been stung by the majority of stinging Hymenoptera [a large order of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described.]

  I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to get stung, on purpose, by a majority (!!!) of stinging sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants out of 150,000+ known species. Talk about willing to make sacrifices for science!

• by PaulHoule on 1/25/21, 2:38 PM

  It takes animals a while to figure out that something painful that doesn't cause tissue damage is safe.

  It's always amazed me that a big draft horse is terrified of an electric fence that gives a tiny zap. (Although when I touched the fence when my feet were underwater I realized it must hurt more if they are better grounded.)

  The effectiveness of an electric fence is entirely about intimidation and if an animal is motivated to get out it may eventually find a moment of pain is worth a few minutes of freedom.

• by jacobrussell on 1/25/21, 2:25 PM

  > Feeling only slight pain, Schmidt has described the sting of a digger bee, categorized into Pain Level 1, as "almost pleasant, a lover just bit your earlobe a little too hard."

  Amazing

• by Razengan on 1/25/21, 3:40 PM

  Where do toebiters come in?

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belostomatidae

  Apparently they have one of the most “excruciatingly painful” bites. But I guess does that not count as a “sting”?

• by mcraiha on 1/25/21, 2:40 PM

  The Brave Wilderness Channel in YouTube has some of these insect stings tested out in case you think seeing pain is interesting.