page_title: Synoeca surinama
section_title: Sting venom
hierarchical_section_title: Synoeca surinama / Human Importance / Sting venom
caption_attribution_description: English: 2D-structure of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT)
context_page_description: Synoeca surinama is a Neotropical swarm-founding wasp of the tribe Epiponini. It is known for its metallic blue and black appearance and painful sting. S. surinama builds nests on tree trunks and can be found in tropical climates of South America. When preparing to swarm, there are a number of pre-swarming behaviors that members of S. surinama colonies partake in, such as buzzing runs and occasional brood cannibalism. In S. surinama, social environmental conditions determine the caste ranks of individuals in the developing brood. Unlike less primitive Hymenoptera species, S. surinama display little morphological variation between egglaying queens and workers. S. surinama wasps visit flowering plants and are considered pollinators. When these wasps sting, the stinger is left in the victim and the wasp ultimately dies. Additionally, S. surinama wasps produce extremely painful stings.
context_section_description: One of the active chemicals that are injected into the victim of a S. surinama sting is 5-hydroxytryptamine, which is commonly known as the neurotransmitter serotonin. When injected, serotonin acts as a vasoconstrictor, which could potentially be lethal to small animals. Since vasoconstrictor chemicals are often released in response to an open wound in order to stop excessive bleeding, the elevated presence of this vasoconstrictor falsely signals to the brain that there is a serious wound in the periphery, and this is experienced as severe pain. In S. surinama, serotonin has also been found in the head, though in smaller amounts than what is found in the stinging apparatus.
caption: 2-D chemical structure of the neurotransmitter serotonin
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