I Just Got Stung By A Wasp

Insect bites and stings are so common that nearly everyone experiences one at some point. For the most part, they cause only mild discomfort. Some bites and stings go unnoticed until an itchy bump forms on the skin.

Getting stung by a wasp is a completely different story.

These winged insects are sometimes mistaken for bees, but wasps have a thinner waist and less body hair compared with bees. (1) Despite their differences, one thing they do have in common is their ability to inflict a painful punishment.

The good news is that wasps aren’t always aggressive, and they typically only sting when they feel threatened. (2) If you stay out of their way, they’ll stay out of yours.

On the off chance that you have a run-in with a wasp, here’s what you need to know about wasp sting remedies and sting allergies.

There are roughly 20,000 species of wasps, but not all of them sting humans. (2) As with bees, only female wasps have stingers. And unlike honeybees, wasps don’t lose their stingers. This means it’s possible to be stung multiple times by the same wasp. (3)

Four common types of stinging wasps include:

1. Bald-Faced Hornet

Bald-faced hornets are black and white and about three-quarters of an inch long. (Technically they are wasps and not a type of hornet, despite the name.) They are known to be especially aggressive in protecting their distinctive roundish papery nests, which often hang from trees.

Do not confuse the bald-faced hornet with the European hornet (which is a type of hornet). The European hornet is bigger, measuring closer to 1 inch long. (1) You can identify the European hornet by its reddish-brown head and legs and yellow-and-black striped abdomen (rear end). They nest in the ground, in the hollows of trees, and in spaces inside interior walls. (1) They’re found in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America. (4)

2. Yellow Jacket

Host an outdoor barbecue and you’ll likely have a few of these unwanted visitors. Yellow jackets are sometimes confused with hornets and bees, but you can easily identify them by their black-and-yellow-striped abdomen and short legs. These wasps are extremely aggressive and sting more often than other types of wasps. (1,3)

Yellow jackets are active from the spring through late summer, and you can find them around the globe. If you live in the southeastern United States, you may see them in large numbers. (3)

3. Paper Wasp

You’ll find these wasps throughout the U.S., usually flying around structures. Paper wasps are about a half inch to 1 inch long and identified by their reddish-brown to black body and long legs that hang down when they fly. (5)

Some paper wasps have yellow rings around their abdomen, making them resemble a yellow jacket. All paper wasps are active during the spring, summer, and fall. (3,5)

4. Cicada Killer Wasp

This is one of the largest species of wasp in North America — growing up to 1½ inches — and they’re found throughout the U.S. You can distinguish these from other wasps by their mostly black abdomen with whitish markings. (1)

Cicada killer wasps feed on cicadas, another fairly large insect. They rarely sting humans, but will if they feel threatened. (6)

Wasp stings are venomous, so if one stings you, you’ll know right away. These stings cause a local reaction that can feel like sharp burning in the area of the sting. (7)

Symptoms of a wasp sting include:

• Pain and burning
• Redness
• Swelling
• Itching