Justin O. Schmidt aka “King of sting” died at 75
The renowned University of Arizona Entomologist Justin O. Schmidt, also known as the "King of Sting," died Saturday evening from Parkinson’s Disease. Schmidt is best known for rating the pain of Hymenoptera insects–stinging bugs like bees, wasps, and ants.
Justin O Schmidt, an intrepid entomologist who measured the agony of insect stings by allowing himself to be stung hundreds of times in creating a renowned and vividly descriptive pain scale that ranked them, died on Feb. 18 in Tucson, Ariz. He was 75. His wife, Dr. Li Schmidt, said the cause was complications of Parkinson’s disease. He has a eccentric nickname as King of Sting.
Dr. Schmidt, who brought a joyful exuberance to his work and gained a measure of pop culture fame from it. Spent his career investigating the biochemist...