Are Wasp Stings More Painful Than Bee Stings?

Nobody likes being stung by a wasp or a bee, and the pain and swelling of either can be quite uncomfortable.

One of the simplest reasons why a wasp exterminator is called in if a nest is discovered is simply to avoid the painful, itchy bump of a wasp sting.

In general, unless you are allergic or receive dozens of stings at once, most people will be able to treat any stings at home, but this does not take away from the fact that wasp, bee and hornet stings are all venomous to some degree.

Many people believe that wasp stings are more painful than bee stings, but is this necessarily true?

Whilst stings will vary between different species of wasp and bees, as well as from person to person, the general consensus is that whilst bee stings are more immediately and intensely painful compared to a wasp sting, the latter can cause a sharp, burning, itchy pain for hours at a time.

The reasons why they feel so different are due to the composition of their venom and the design of their stingers. Honeybees have a barbed stinger that can only sting once but can break off in the skin, dispensing venom that contains the peptide melittin, as well as potential allergen enzymes.

By contrast, most wasps have a smooth stinger with a venom that contains allergen enzymes, histamines, proteins and pheromones.

The latter part is important as part of the reason why wasp stings are more painful than bee stings is that it is rare to be stung only once by a wasp. They will often attack multiple times, with a pheromone that signals for other wasps to attack.

This is what makes them particularly unpleasant and why a nest should be taken care of as soon as possible, but most wasp stings will start to feel better in a couple of hours. If they do not, or the pain and swelling start to get more intense, consult a doctor as soon as possible.