Why do wasp and bee stings hurt so much?

Asked by: Sophie Elliott, Aberdeen

Wasp and bee venom are quite different chemically, but they both contain peptides (amino acid chains) that have evolved specifically to cause pain in other animals. The social bees and wasps use this to defend their nests; the solitary ones, just to discourage predators from eating them. Honeybee venom contains a peptide called melittin that directly activates the pain receptors in your skin.

Read more:

• Could you neutralise a bee sting with a wasp sting?
• Do any wasps make honey?

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