These are the worst stings in the world, according to a guy who's experienced them all

Scientific name: Sphecius grandis

Range: North America

Description: "Pain at first sight. Like poison oak, the more your rub, the worse it gets."

Pain level: 1.5

Scientific name: Apis mellifera

Range: Native to Africa and Europe

Description: "Burning, corrosive, but you can handle it. A flaming match head lands on your arm and is quenched first with lye and then sulfuric acid."

Pain level: 2

Scientific name: Vespula pensylvanica

Range: North America

Description: "Hot and smoky, almost irreverent. Imagine W.C. Fields extinguishing a cigar on your tongue."

Pain level: 2

Scientific name: Polybia simillima

Range: Central America

Description: "A ritual gone wrong, satanic. The gas lamp in the old church explodes in your face when you light it."

Pain level: 2.5

Scientific name: Dasymutilla klugii

Range: North America

Description: "Explosive and long lasting, you sound insane as you scream. Hot oil from the deep frying spilling over your entire hand."

Pain level: 3

Scientific name: Pogonomyrmex badius

Range: North America

Description: "Bold and unrelenting. Somebody is using a power drill to excavate your ingrown toenail."

Pain level: 3

Scientific name: Pepsis spp.

Range: North America, Central America, and South America

Description: "Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair dryer has just been dropped into your bubble bath."

Pain level: 4

Scientific name: Paraponera clavata

Range: Central America and South America

Description: "Pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like walking over a flaming charcoal with a 3-inch nail embedded in your heel."

Pain level: 4

Scientific name: Synoeca septentrionalis

Range: Central America and South America

Description: "Torture. You are chained in the flow of an active volcano. Why did I start this list?"

Pain level: 4