Picture yourself out in a field of wildflowers on a warm spring day. The sun on your skin, the sweet smell of blossoms in the air…and a sudden searing pain because you have become the target of an insect’s ire. You immediately regret venturing outdoors and head back inside where you’re safe.

If you’ve ever been stung, you’re not likely to forget the feeling. It might leave you wondering, however, which insect stings pack the most punch. Well, we have done the research for you and compiled this list of the worst stinging insects for your review.

Read on to learn which insects to avoid like the plague when you head outside!

1. Florida Harvester Ant

The Florida harvester ant has a sting that you won’t soon forget.

Thankfully, due to its ecological needs, it’s limited to the southern portion of America. You can find this guy throughout Florida, north to North Carolina, and west into Louisiana. There are, however, many different types of harvester ants that you can find throughout North America.

You’ll find Florida harvester nests anywhere you find sandy soil, and their nests will look like a typical ant nest. Look for them in your yard and gardens. You may be able to distinguish them by the small pebbles or burned charcoal they place on top of the mound.

If you step in one, expect stings that are more intense than a typical ant sting. The pain from the sting can last hours, and they have been known to cause swelling and oozing from the site of the sting.

2. Western Cicada Killer

The western cicada killer is the first wasp entry we have on our list. It should come as no surprise that these wasps have stings that pack a wallop.

The western cicada killer is identifiable by its red body with yellow rings on its abdomen. This wasp isn’t particularly aggressive, thankfully. It got its name from the fact that they use their sting to paralyze cicadas to take home to their nest and feed to their young.

If you’re unlucky enough to get stung by the cicada killer, it’s best to leave the wound alone. It’s going to be painful, but the more you mess with the site of the sting, the worse it’s going to feel.

It’s important to note that the western cicada killer wasp isn’t the only one out there. There is also the Pacific and the eastern cicada killer wasp, which means you can find it throughout America. 

3. Velvet Ant

When you first see a velvet ant in the wild, your first instinct might be to pet it. You must fight that instinct or you’re going to be in a world of pain.

The velvet ant is actually not an ant at all. Rather, it’s a female wasp that does not have wings. Their bodies are covered in red-orange fur and their legs are jet black.

One not-so-fun fact is that the velvet ant has a stinger that is the longest stinger out of all insects, relative to their body size. for that reason, the velvet ant’s sting is nothing less than intense. Expect to feel like the site of the sting has been dipped in the deep fryer, and expect the pain to linger for a while.

4. Western Honey Bee

The western honey bee can be found pretty much everywhere in the world. You typically see them hanging out in your garden, flying from flower to flower to gather up pollen. 

They’re pretty cute, especially when they get drunk on pollen and take a nap in bloom, but don’t let that fool you. Their sting is no joke. Add on top of that the fact that many people are allergic to bee stings and they can pose quite a threat.

If you have a hive of honey bees in your garden, don’t break out the insecticide. Honey bees are critical to our food chain and our economy. Instead, have them relocated to another spot where they can pollinate to their hearts’ content.

5. Tarantula Hawk

If you see a tarantula hawk in the wild, run, don’t walk. 

The tarantula hawk is a spider was that preys mostly on the spider of most people’s nightmares, the tarantula. Their sting paralyzes the tarantula, and the tarantula is taken back to their nest and eaten alive. Oh, and they also lay an egg on the tarantula that hatches and eats the tarantula while it is still alive.

The sting from a tarantula hawk is nothing short of agonizing. The good news is that the pain only lasts for a few minutes, and the insect is not particularly aggressive. What a silver lining!

6. Western Yellowjacket

There’s nothing about the western yellowjacket that doesn’t make you want to run for your life when you see them. They don’t look friendly, but the real creep factor comes from the fact that they are a flesh-eating insect. That’s right, they mostly subsist on a diet of other insects, but they won’t shy away from the pulled pork you have on your picnic table.

The yellowjacket doesn’t just sting you, it bites you, too. They begin their attack by biting you in order to get a better grip in order to plunge their stinger into your skin and inject venom. Expect to feel an intense burning sensation for a few minutes before it begins to subside.

If you have a swarm of yellowjackets taunting you at every turn, then it’s time to give the pros a call. Pest control companies like the ones you’ll find at https://www.altuspest.com/ can help you get yellowjackets away from your home.

Keep the Worst Stinging Insects Out of Your Life

There are a lot of great things that come with warmer weather, but stinging insects are not one of them. If you encounter any of the worst stinging insects out when you’re exploring the outside world, the best thing you can do is walk away from them. We definitely don’t recommend performing your own personal experiment with them to judge the pain of their sting for yourself.

We know you’ve got a lot going on in your life, and it’s difficult to stay on top of the latest news. Thankfully, we do all the digging for you and serve up the latest dish on our blog. Check it out if you don’t want to miss the latest viral trend!