Which of the following are least likely to sting?

• A. Honey bee
• B. Hornet
• C. Yellow jacket
• D. Mud dauber

Answer: (D)

Stinging frequency is tied to social behavior and nest defense. Social bees and wasps defend their colonies aggressively and can sting repeatedly, while solitary wasps, like mud daubers, are not as defensive and usually only sting if mishandled or directly provoked.

Honey bees will sting in defense of their hive, and hornets and yellow jackets are known for their readiness to attack when their nest is disturbed. Mud daubers, on the other hand, are solitary and typically calm around people; they sting mainly if their nest is disturbed or if they’re mishandled, making them the least likely to sting among these options.

So, the mud dauber is the best answer because its solitary, non-reactive nature means it’s less prone to sting compared with the defensive, nest-attacking behavior of hornets and yellow jackets and the hive-defending honey bee.