Wasp and Hornet Season is here, did you know about their stinging capacity?

Unlike bees, which typically die after stinging due to their barbed stingers getting stuck in the skin, wasps can sting multiple times because their stingers are not barbed and can be withdrawn without harming them. However, each sting does consume some of the wasp’s venom reserves.

Regarding energy reserves, like all creatures, wasps have limited energy stores, and repeated stinging will gradually deplete these reserves. If a wasp perceives a significant threat, it may be more willing to use up its energy reserves in defense. However, once its energy is depleted, it may become less aggressive or less capable of stinging.

The exact number of times a wasp can sting before running out of venom or becoming too exhausted to continue stinging can vary widely and is difficult to quantify precisely. It’s generally best to avoid provoking wasps to minimize the risk of being stung.