Bees are flying insects known for their role in pollination and, for some species, producing honey. These insects are part of the Hymenoptera order, which includes over 20,000 known species. Only female bees can sting, using this ability primarily as a defense mechanism.
The Stinging Truth About Female Bees
Female bees primarily sting to defend themselves, their colony, or their hive from perceived threats. Stinging is a last resort, with significant consequences for the bee. Bees may sting if their nest is disturbed, they feel threatened, or handled roughly. When a bee stings, it injects venom, causing pain and swelling. Some bees also release alarm pheromones, signaling danger and recruiting others to join the defense, which collectively protects the colony and its resources.
Diverse Stingers: Which Female Bees Can Sting
Not all female bees sting with the same frequency or for the same reasons. Worker honey bees are well-known for their stinging capability, using it to protect their hive. Bumblebees possess stingers and can sting if they feel threatened, though they are generally less aggressive than honey bees. Solitary bees, such as mason bees and leafcutter bees, have stingers but are typically non-aggressive and rarely sting unless directly provoked or crushed, as they have no large colony to defend. Queen bees, while equipped with a stinger, use it primarily for fighting rival queens, especially newly emerged ones, rather than for defense against predators or humans. They rarely sting humans, even when handled.
The Stinger’s Design and Its Consequences
A bee’s stinger design determines its defensive outcome. Worker honey bees have barbed stingers that embed in the skin of a mammal. When a honey bee stings, the barbs cause the stinger and internal organs to tear away, leading to the bee’s death shortly after. This self-sacrificing mechanism ensures the venom sac continues to pump venom into the target. In contrast, bumblebees and solitary bees have smooth stingers without significant barbs, allowing them to withdraw their stinger after use and sting multiple times without dying.
The Non-Stinging Males
Male bees, commonly known as drones, do not possess a stinger and cannot sting. The stinger in female bees is a modified ovipositor, an organ originally used for egg-laying, which males lack. Drones have a distinct role in the bee colony, primarily focused on reproduction. They mate with the queen, contributing to the genetic diversity of the next generation. Male bees do not participate in foraging, honey production, or hive defense.