All bees have stingers, but honey bees can only use their stingers one time and then die afterwards. These stingers are barbed, which break off and stick into the flesh of the animal they sting. Only minutes later, the honey bee dies. This is not the case for the bumblebee, which is a larger and fuzzier bee. Humans that are allergic to bee stings should take precautions to avoid them entirely and seek medical help if ever stung.
Wasps are more aggressive stinging insects, who are not afraid to charge after someone who simply is too close to their nest. Larger than bees, wasp stings are generally more painful as well. Yellow jackets are the most common wasps. As is also the case with bee stings, wasp stings are not fatal to humans unless one is allergic. Wasps are capable of stinging and biting at the same time.
The largest and most painful stinging insect is the hornet. Hornets are most likely to sting a mammal that is disrupting a nest. Many hornets can be found in a nest, better known as a colony. Multiple stings can be fatal to humans, and they may also send a person into a state of shock. The most venomous sting comes from the Asian giant hornet, which lives in many Asian countries such as China, India, Korea and Japan.
Many ants bite before they sting, but those that do sting are quite painful and irritating. Fire ants are more likely to sting than any other species of ant, and will do so in rapid amount. The result of a fire ant sting is a burning pustule, which may be relieved with antihistamines. Ants generally won't sting if undisturbed. Humans with known allergies to fire ant stings should seek immediate first aid if ever stung.