The world’s most painful insect sting - Justin Schmidt

Find out whether a honeybee, a tarantula hawk wasp, or a bullet ant has the most painful insect sting, and what each of their stings feel like.
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One of these three creatures is thought to possess the world’s most painful insect sting: there’s an ant that forages in rainforest canopies, a bee that protects a hive of delectable honey, and a wasp that paralyzes tarantulas. So which has the nastiest sting? Justin Schmidt describes and ranks the pain inflicted by each insect.
Lesson by Justin Schmidt, directed by Nicholas Paim, Alopra Studio.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-world-...
Dig deeper with additional resources: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-world-...
Animator's website: alopra.com/
Music: / aim-music
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! SpartacusDMR, Brian A. Dunn, Francisco Amaya, Daisuke Goto, Matt Switzler, Leonardo Monrroy, Sumedh Ghaisas, Maryam, Bethany Connor, Jeremy Shimanek, Mark Byers, Avinash Amarnath, Xuebicoco, Rare Media, Rayo, Po Foon Kwong, NinjaBoffin, Jesse Jurman, Josue Perez Miranda, Scott Markley, Elija Peterson, Ovidiu Mrd, Xavier dupont, paul g mohney, Aravind Battaje, Nathan Giusti, Helen Lee, Anthony Benedict, Karthik Balsubramanian, John Hong, Annastasshia Ames, Amy Lopez, Vinh-Thuy Nguyen, Liz Candee, Kathryn Vacha, Ugur Doga Sezgin, Anthony Arcis, Chung Wah Gnapp, Karmi Nguyen, Yelena Baykova, Harshita Jagdish Sahijwani, Nick Johnson, Carlos H. Costa, Roberto Patrick, Les Howard, Jennifer Kurkoski, Ryan B Harvey, Abhishek Bansal, Akinola Emmanuel and Jose Arcadio Valdes Franco.

[@davidkhan2969]

The narrator sounds so excited about the pain he and we all endured by such insects

[@perikles_laanonymoose4081]

Agreed

[@dylankruse7749]

He does sound very excited

[@Urfcannon]

side effect of being an Aussie

[@arnoldmbuthia2687]

It's like he's doing a voice-over for an ad

[@Qo0_0]

Stonks

[@minhhieuvu6346]

Schmidt: *Literally dying in pain in real life The animators: *This sounds like an uplifting story*

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

The animators: we'll pretend we didn't see heard that

[@zamane1234]

Coyote Peterson went through the same thing as Justin Schmidt

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

@@zamane1234 schmitt had it worst cuz it was all of the bites and sting

[@samuraiboi2735]

@@zamane1234 yeah wait your a coyote fan😶

[@samuraiboi2735]

@@zamane1234 still a fan of coyote for making alot of wderness vids

[@theblackpearlofbraavos]

"Lie down and scream" sounds like a tagline for a horror movie 🔪🔪🔪

[@hankjones7054]

Coming this oct 31st, ' The Masseuse'.

[@josephgodbey5490]

LOL you are right

[@milkimusic6683]

@@hankjones7054 oh gosh 😭✋

[@charliejacinto1783]

Yeah

[@helenakwasnicova8799]

maybe mine😈😈😈😈😈💀💀💀💀☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@geekacelol8982]

Schmidt: “And those are the most painful stings.” Coyote Peterson: “Sounds sus, I’m checking for myself.”

[@tunturikuningas5393]

Didn't he rank the toe-biter the highest?

[@potato1094]

@@tunturikuningas5393 no I think it was the executioner wasp or the desert centipede the highest

[@waretrocks]

Centipede bite was the most painful bite

[@theobvu]

@@waretrocks not it was Executioner Wasp

[@arjansingh1777]

Did you unironically say the word sus?

[@ronnieboyd9563]

Schmidt one day: "Ah yes, what a day to feel immeasurable pain"

[@red__guy]

"what a day to measure immeasurable pain" *

[@friedchikkenoverheaven4992]

But it is measurable That’s what he’s doing

[@andrewj3177]

He just doesnt give a Schmidt -sam o'nella

[@milkimusic6683]

Lmao,,also I’m ur 336th like

[@YogiTheOne]

“The truth hurts.” Half of my respiratory organs when they hear that: *guess we’ll fail*

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

Haha

[@grandduos4423]

You know world is full of good people like you and you know what God is having accute shortage of good people like you upstairs with him he call you back soon do be prepared

[@aspentune2719]

@@grandduos4423 dude who are you

[@zeenza1093]

@@grandduos4423 ??

[@grandduos4423]

@@aspentune2719 I am someone who wants god to call me back .. but God just not listening to me ... I am fed up of my life ... You help me take a gun and shoot me on head perfect end the end...

[@GrapplingHookJones]

The Ant Man movie really undersells the pain of bullet ant bites

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

That will be a good weapon for him

[@brandtyee6257]

*stings

[@harmonialarts]

I like how highly specific the desciptions are and question how they came to these conclusions. True heroes for searching the answers for very painful questions.

[@lakshmimohan6467]

Yea .. like walking on burning charcoal with a nail on your heel has to be a very specific kind of pain 😀

[@greatwavefan397]

@@lakshmimohan6467 Bro, I winced.

[@NXE212]

Well considering those times he intentionally stung himself, i guess he didn't really give a Schmidt about that.

[@nusrataysha8500]

Samonella right?

[@NXE212]

@@nusrataysha8500 Yes

[@potato1094]

Badumb ching

[@ThePCguy17]

Actually, he started to genuinely question his decision to create the scale after the bullet ant bite. And honestly, if it hurts that badly for 12 whole hours, I can see why.

[@rosinros]

"I guess you could say he really a Schmidt." -Sam O'Nella

[@no_mnom]

R I P Sam

[@patrickbrinkworth9125]

@@no_mnom what ACTUALLY happened to sam??

[@patrickbrinkworth9125]

"Na na na na na na HUAAHAYAHAH"

[@rosinros]

@@no_mnom F

[@creativeusername9352]

Na Na Na Na Na (neck snap)

[@mypal1990]

No wonder Coyote Peterson looked up to him when he gets stung. The schmidt pain index is the bar for all things insect bites or sting.

[@Alkalus]

knew someone was gonna make this comment

[@c.galindo9639]

@@Alkalus I also knew someone was going to point out that they knew this comment was coming

[@NewbyTon]

This is 10% pain 20% pain 15% concentrated power of pain 5% pain 50% pain And a hundred percent reason to remember the pain

[@helloiamenergyman]

Genius

[@rbrs885]

🤣🤣🤣

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

Everything is pain

[@primuse.x.e6141]

🏆

[@seanwhitman8353]

There's something on your face. IT WAS PAIN

[@rohanfernando21]

The energy of the video and the commentary together are hilariously dark.

[@PainRankers]

Executioner Wasp: "Hold my beer."

[@omegaproskills]

Hello!

[@legendaryking8952]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/famZZ5eDrtmYgas bullet ant: hold my beer

[@cringeashXD]

Sup

[@shafqatishan437]

*hold my sting or venom

[@gonr0gue85]

Those are worryingly accurate descriptions 😂

[@setcheck67]

Now think that there is a tribe where the initiation into being a warrior is to put on a glove that has bullet ants inside of it. I imagine after undergoing that torture you really would have a stronger resolve.

[@ishitachouhan3676]

i love the enthusiasm of the narrator regarding to us getting stinged 😂😂

[@primuse.x.e6141]

HEY !!

[@californiaspring3136]

I know. Excessive excitement, hehe... It's like a sweet bitterness.

[@filippo6157]

The fact he talks about destroying pain with so much joy and emphasis is fantastic

[@kurumi394]

Ah the part 2 for the infamous Sam o'nella' Academy's obscure measurement indexes course

[@nusrataysha8500]

I miss the guy.He was Goat.Who agrees and who wants him back?

[@starmaker75]

Image being the poor person that figure how painful these insects stingers are the hard way

[@mindofgod1737]

It's not your fault to be poor, but it's your fault to be died poor 😪

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

@@mindofgod1737 what?

[@neighneighthecamel2700]

@@mindofgod1737 w h a t ?

[@pedropedrohan102]

@@mindofgod1737 *w h a t ?*

[@jaketheperson8495]

No one: Coyote Peterson: *Allow me to introduce myself.*

[@debojyotisarkar72]

The animations and the energy of the narrator...😂😃

[@auricathome]

I've read the Japanese comic "Arachnid", and I already knew what the most painful sting was going to be from, it's information packed, and so was this video.

[@cinnamonxguy]

I love the game show-like narration 🥰

[@Joao-hm5dp]

Oh ❤️ It's such an honor to cowork with this amazing team of artists!! Congrats for the amazing production, Alopra!

[@SagaciousEagle]

The animation is on a different level from the usual.

[@amangcaya4468]

As someone who grew up in a tropical country, I can attest that a bite from a bullet ant is one of the worst nightmares any kid will ever experience.

[@chloewilliams9941]

The definition of 'ouch' and 'ouch that stings' in a single video

[@TheBlackRock-]

Poor Tarantula

[@ojaspednekar]

I was about to comment first, but I remembered that I am a dignified man

[@xzyhavionwilliams5058]

We need more people like you

[@lilbeetle7759]

Respec

[@pluviophile5996]

🙌🏻🙌🏻💖

[@intodaysepisode...]

He sounds so excited about these painful experiences lol

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

Indeed

[@Jax-go9es]

rest in peace, schmidt

[@Zorange]

3:48 LOOK CLOSELY, THE CROWN IS SUS!

[@sss7634]

Bullet ant be like "Dominance!"

[@dynamosaurusimperious2718]

Well this was a nice epsiode of *IT HURTS* . Also this was some very nice and stylish animation,and ofc cause it's a Ted-Ed video,it's very good( and hope y'all have a good Monday,and don't get stung. )

[@kepenetasik]

great video Ted-ed like always. But there is a visual and probably a theoretical error at 01:31. Yes a severe allergic reaction from a bee sting can lead to fluid accumulation eventually. but the main severe allergic reaction's pathology in the lung is bronchoconstriction or narrowing of the airway tube which leads to respiratory distress. Yes, the allergy can also make our capillary blood vessel in the lung more leaky and fluid can accumulate there, but it will mainly accumulate in the alveoli further compromising oxygenation (pulmonary edema is the correct term). In the video, the fluid rising up from below indicates a pleural effusion not a pulmonary edema, and pleural effusion is pretty rare in a severe allergic reaction. i just wanna point it out to clear the error which probably is unintentional. Great video by the way. keep up the good work!

[@pvtpain66k]

I laughed out loud at "another one". The animations for this one are excellent.

[@wordsmiths_realm]

Any filipinos here? I'm so glad that youtube recommended me this channel since the lockdown... So many things I've learned and so, hopefully, all of you did.

[@pranphu5248]

" Science is an endless search for truth. " I read during my school days. Here I saw the proof and the extent. Kudos to the contributions of Schmidt 👍🏻

[@leonardofarias8003]

Omg that "the truth hurts" in the end is actually very profound 4:53

[@oliverpepit1354]

Ted Ed please make this an actual series!!!! It's so interesting!

[@thulasi1798]

Meanwhile, I just saw a video in Brave Wilderness channel and he said executioner wasp is the most painful

[@umbriferus]

Rest in peace insect sting man

[@Blairslife1]

at 1:38 the seperation was so graphic. Congrats to the animators.

[@alphabladelm2011]

Loved how this was set up like a game show. It was all the more entertaining to learn despite the context.

[@duckyboi6211]

Ted Ed do be putting out those good quality videos

[@alexanderthegreat1257]

Next time you should do a video about the biology of plants and how their growth determines their strengths

[@armandobastos9439]

P-L-E-A-S-E Please make more of this!!!!! Same game show, same style, same animation. THIS IS AWESOME!!!! I'll be waiting for the next installment of IT HURTS

[@SomeGuy-qd3li]

Wonderful narration, great music and fun animation. I'd love to see more in this style

[@charlesbromberick4247]

Leaving all this playful exaggeration behind (I have experienced all these stings and many others), I find the most painful sting to be that of the "webs of hellfire" jellyfish (granted it´s not an insect) which inhabits warm watrs on the Mexican Pacific coast. Thanks for another informative video.

[@vedikadhage1773]

Once i got sting from bee 🐝 I didnt killed her though , But ted ed reminded me of that incident And yeah *It was world of pain*

[@maxine9263]

dont bees die when they sting humans

[@vedikadhage1773]

@@maxine9263 Huh good question I flew my hand in air and that bee just hit my hand partially , she dont put her whole sting in my finger

[@maxine9263]

@@vedikadhage1773 oh k

[@xxfalconarasxx5659]

@@maxine9263 There are a few possibilities. 1) Honeybees can take about an hour to die when their stinger is dislodged from their abdomens, so it may simply be that the bee died out of sight. 2) Occasionally the stinger may not penetrate deep enough, resulting in only superficial damage. 3) The bee was a queen, which lacks a barbed stinger, and thus can sting multiple times without harming herself. 4) It may be that the bee was a Bumblebee, which does not have a barbed stinger, so they can sting multiple times without harming themselves.

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

It depend on how deep the bees put thier sharpe futa sausage in ya without hurting themselves

[@Anna-nw1ge]

I love the way ...they display these videos 🙌

[@Think_Inc]

I was laughing so hard throughout the video, that it hurt beely bad. That narration and animation was just hilarious and super dark.

[@weirddudes5543]

Damn, the guy who made the Schmidt pain index is narrating.

[@srijanumesh5355]

I would love more IT HURTS series

[@srijanumesh5355]

@@cristobalcaballero1096 you actually made me excited for a sec. Hate such scammers

[@aquilatimothy8553]

this remind me of The Brave Wilderness,, that guy has the balls to try to get stung by such insect, just like Schmidt

[@abdumutaltillayev9292]

the most I love this video the act of insects and their laugh and of course the voice of the man thanks for the information

[@9999science]

As soon I saw the title my immediate thought was *Ask Coyote Peterson*

[@kavitasanodia4384]

You've granted me a lifetime fear of ants, thank you.

[@DWF_GRIND]

I can still hear that bee laughing, echoing through the hollows. *shivers*

[@kl4pp3d_78]

Ted-ed is our class's best teacher. For real tho. Keep up the work animators, narrators, and researchers!

[@salinasantiago8544]

When you have an entire pain index named after yourself you’re officially legend

[@animalswithtomek4188]

Bullet ants! The last sentence is perfect;)

[@aw3383]

You mean 'The truth hurts.'? ;)

[@animalswithtomek4188]

@@aw3383 yep

[@clipxlx1438]

2:43 aah the good old days I rember when I was just like my children

[@mina9e]

Thank you for this knowledge, Ed. I will never leave home again.

[@fooforce]

1:26: Me when I get a 100% on the final exam 1:42: Me when my professor calls me out for cheating on it.

[@Sivah_Akash]

How is Justin able to so comprehensively describe the stings?

[@bscorvin]

I got unreasonably excited to see that it’s going to be taught by the madlad himself. Thank you for your sacrifice sir o7

[@break_until_April15_or_April10]

Omg I really like how it says the text "please stand bye"

[@saberkitt]

Best educational channel on KZbin :)!

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

This life noggin riddle and kurzegat(if I spell that right)

[@saberkitt]

@@brawmankerlexterminateurde860 yeah

[@milkimusic6683]

3:00 It’s so freaking sad that even tarantula’s are crying..

[@milkimusic6683]

For a better time stamp, use 2:58

[@eto7194]

This narrator is full of life, full of excitement it makes my mosquito feel numb-

[@yuvrajchopra868]

Schmidt: Bullet ant has the most painful sting in the insect kingdom. Coyote Peterson: Hold my Executioner wasp.

[@anonymousdude2550]

Nature has unique way to serve the purpose... Imagine being alive, paralysed and eaten inside out

[@chervilious]

btw, the larva is eating from the inside WHILE avoiding vital organs, to make sure the spider stays alive as long as possible. It can last several weeks

[@anonymousdude2550]

@@chervilious how hurtful that would be 🙄

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

@@chervilious that is sadism an automatic natural sadism by nature

[@brawmankerlexterminateurde860]

@@anonymousdude2550 if parasites bugs were bigger I will make free flamethrowers for ya what you say?

[@anonymousdude2550]

@@brawmankerlexterminateurde860 okay thanks

[@spark_city9639]

This guys talking about pain-Kalm *Him talking in a happy voice*-Panik Him talking about a story-Kalm *It's more pain*-PANIK

[@seanwhitman8353]

I have plan for you. MORE PAIN

[@goodintensionneed9715]

Ted-Ed just keeps going on with new creativity in every next video...

[@ZOCCOK]

Schimdt looks exactly like he looks in real life

[@patrickbrinkworth9125]

The sting of my dad leaving me.

[@timidsoul0794]

damnn

[@konradkollar5269]

Oooooooffffffff

[@Alkalus]

Lmao

[@LeoDaTiger]

I really like how TED has a lot of ways to make videos now and its all interesting XD

[@redrumtheartist6275]

I have never been stung by any kind of bee and have rarely gotten stung by any insect and have no allergic reactions happening in my life, it's like a blessing

[@SixSeventySix1]

Knowing a bee dies when it stings hurts the most emotionally, poor honey girl :(

[@needyourhelptoreach1ksubsc727]

A catchy name ,,,, Bullet Ant

[@Ankit1903]

TedEd... You guys are amazing... I have Covid with continuous high fever... and you guys are keeping me curious and entertained. #Gratitude

[@JackGesetzlos]

Bullet Ant: I am the KING of STING! Executioner Wasp: Hold my beer.

[@legendaryking8952]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/famZZ5eDrtmYgas

[@Tiangerine]

Love this, it’s lit, but where do the “why you should read” videos be at? Those are my fav! 😭

[@chelidoniii]

Its really great to learn random things sometimes

[@arunabhganodwale1022]

HEY.! I am loving this new Ted Ed animation art.

[@lunaticdreemurr5768]

The bee in this video is just too freaking cute. Especially the little cackle at 2:04! "Hehehehehehe!" I haven't reached the end of the video yet, but I'm voting for the bee just because you guys made it cute!

[@supercalifragilisticexpial2703]

Ouch. Is an understatement.

[@sanjaymajhi6255]

Ed Ted just provides us with a lot of scientific stuffs in really attractive videos ....and it's surely heading towards perfection ...

[@reymundalagos9889]

Jack Cutmore Scott narrated this!That’s why he sounded familiar! 💙

[@lan9581]

“ What topic shall we do today” “Uh…..” “Okay, thanks”

[@Theking-hy2nx]

Anderson is the best narrator with his relaxing voice

[@aryashah1665]

I love ted ed soo educational 💖💖💕❤️ keep the great work GO TED ED!!!!!!!!

[@ximec.r.2643]

Someone who worked as an entomologist in southeast Mexico described the most painful sting ever, a mosquito the size of a giant wasp that left him in agonizing fever for a week.

[@allthisfitsverywell4203]

These animations are absolutely hilarious I about had a stroke laughing at it 🤣

[@gurumurthysrinivasan7052]

They quoted the Big Lebowski lol nice!

[@Electroblade360]

3:40 Heartbeat: **Gets Abnormal** Bullet Ant: **Claps Hands** This Is Beautiful. I've Looked At This For 5 Hours Now

[@AMNG1994]

The narrator is so lively he can offer a buy one take two for those stings and I'll take it.

[@damariscaina433]

Work very well done by the entire production, but I'm passionate about animation, very well done! Duba rocks too much, too proud.

[@quasebuda]

hahhahahahahahha how cute

[@zennyfieldster4220]

What a coincidence! I was just talking to my nephew earlier about how painful the giant water bugs bite can be.