What hurts worse, a hornet or a wasp?

What hurts worse, a hornet or a wasp sting, depends on species, venom amount, location of sting, and individual sensitivity, but generally hornet stings hurt worse than most common wasp stings because hornets are larger and inject more venom. Bald-faced hornets, European hornets, and especially Asian giant hornets have larger stingers and deliver more venom per sting than yellow jackets or paper wasps, causing sharper, more burning pain, more swelling, and longer-lasting discomfort. On the Schmidt sting pain index, which rates insect stings, hornet stings are often rated around 2 to 3 out of 4, with bald-faced hornet described as rich and slightly smoky with lingering pain, while yellow jacket stings are also rated around 2 but with hot, smoky, and very painful sensation. Both can sting multiple times unlike honeybees, so multiple stings increase pain and risk. For allergic individuals, both can cause severe anaphylaxis, but larger venom load from hornet may increase severity. For most people, a hornet sting feels more painful, with intense burning, throbbing, and swelling that can last hours to days, while a typical yellow jacket or paper wasp sting is painful but slightly less intense. Treatment is similar for both: clean area, apply ice, take antihistamine or pain reliever, and seek emergency care for signs of allergy.