Wasps can sting multiple times. Unlike the more docile honeybee, wasps are aggressive insects that possess a stinger designed for repeated use, allowing them to deliver multiple painful injections of venom. Understanding the biological difference in their anatomy, recognizing common stinging species, and knowing proper first aid steps are essential for minimizing risk and treating a sting effectively.
The Biological Reason for Repeated Stings
The ability of a wasp to sting multiple times is rooted in the physical structure of its stinger, which evolved from the ovipositor. Unlike the honeybee’s stinger, which is equipped with microscopic, backward-facing barbs, the wasp stinger is smooth and needle-like. This smooth design prevents the stinger from anchoring in the skin, which is what proves fatal to the honeybee. When a honeybee stings, the barbs catch, tearing the entire stinging apparatus from its abdomen. The smooth stinger of a wasp allows the insect to easily withdraw the weapon after injecting venom, enabling it to immediately re-insert the stinger and deliver additional venom repeatedly during an attack.
Common Types of Wasps That Sting
Yellow Jackets are relatively small, often mistaken for bees due to their distinct black and bright yellow striped abdomens. They are highly aggressive, especially in late summer and fall when their food sources become scarce, and they often build their large, enclosed paper nests underground, in wall voids, or in attics.
Hornets, such as the Bald-faced Hornet, are generally larger than Yellow Jackets and are typically black with white markings. They construct large, spherical, paper-like nests high off the ground in trees, shrubs, or on buildings. Hornets are fiercely defensive of their nests and will attack anyone who comes too close, capable of injecting a larger amount of venom than smaller wasps.
Paper Wasps are more slender than other species, often brown or reddish-orange with yellow markings, and they build characteristic umbrella-shaped, open-faced nests. These nests are typically found hanging from eaves, porch ceilings, or tree branches. Paper Wasps are generally less aggressive than Yellow Jackets or Hornets, but they will still deliver a painful sting if their nest is disturbed.
Essential First Aid After a Wasp Sting
Immediately following a wasp sting, the first step is to calmly move away from the area to avoid further stings, as wasps do not leave a stinger behind and can attack again. The sting site should be gently washed with soap and water to clean the wound and help prevent infection. To reduce the immediate pain and limit swelling, apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a cloth to the affected area for 10 to 20 minutes.
Over-the-counter treatments can manage localized symptoms, such as an oral antihistamine for itching and swelling, or a nonprescription pain reliever like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for discomfort. Monitor the sting site for several days, watching for signs that the swelling or redness is increasing significantly or spreading. A small number of people can experience anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction requiring immediate medical intervention. Symptoms of a severe reaction include difficulty breathing, wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, dizziness, or a rapid, weak pulse. If these signs appear, emergency services should be called immediately, and if the person has a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen), it must be administered without delay.