When a hornet or wasp visits you, it's best to be cautious.
The sting of a hornet or wasp delivers 2-15 micrograms of a nasty poison designed to paralyze prey or kill enemies. Since the shaft is smooth, the hornet or wasp can withdraw it easily and attack again. To make matters worse for their victims, the venom contains a pheromone which alarms others in the area and literally invites them to the battle (or the feast).
Bee venom is injected in greater amounts, up to about 50 micrograms, but this is the bee's one chance so it has to be a good one! The bee's stinging shaft is barbed and cannot be extracted. The bee loses the whole apparatus and usually dies after delivering the sting.
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