Justin O. Schmidt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Justin O. Schmidt
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| Born |
Justin Orvel Schmidt
March 23, 1947 Rhinelander, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Died | February 18, 2023 (aged 75) Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Pennsylvania State University |
| Known for | Work on killer bees |
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Notable work
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Schmidt sting pain index |
| Awards | Ig Nobel Prize (2015) |
Justin Orvel Schmidt (born March 23, 1947 – died February 18, 2023) was an American scientist who studied insects. He was an entomologist, which means he specialized in insects. Dr. Schmidt became famous for creating something called the Schmidt sting pain index. This index helps us understand how much different insect stings hurt. He also wrote a book called The Sting of the Wild.
Justin Schmidt: The Insect Expert
Justin Schmidt spent many years studying insects. He worked at the Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Arizona. There, he focused on honey bees. He learned about their food, how they talk to each other, and how they behave.
Later, in 2006, he became the research director at The Southwestern Biological Institute. Here, he studied how different insects protect themselves. He looked at the ways ants, wasps, and arachnids (like spiders) use chemicals and behaviors to defend themselves.
The Sting Pain Index
Dr. Schmidt is best known for his amazing work on the Schmidt sting pain index. This is a scale that measures how painful an insect sting is. He created this index by letting himself be stung by many different insects! He then described the pain for each sting.
His descriptions are very detailed and sometimes funny. For example, he said a tarantula hawk wasp sting felt like "a running hairdryer has just been dropped into your bubble bath." The index helps scientists and curious people understand insect defenses better.
A Special Award
In 2015, Justin Schmidt received a special award called the Ig Nobel Prize. He shared this prize in Physiology and Entomology. The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate funny or unusual scientific achievements. His work on the sting pain index was highlighted by news groups all over the world.
His Legacy
Justin Schmidt passed away on February 18, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona. He was 75 years old. His work helped us learn a lot about the amazing world of insects. He taught us about their defenses and how they interact with their environment. His sting pain index remains a unique and important contribution to science.
See also
- Apiology
- Schmidt sting pain index
