Wasps are common insects often encountered in outdoor environments, and their stinging behavior frequently sparks questions. A widely held belief, particularly concerning bees, suggests that stinging inevitably leads to the insect’s demise. However, the outcome for a wasp after it stings is different, and understanding this distinction provides clarity on wasp biology and behavior.
The Wasp’s Stinging Mechanism
A wasp’s stinger is a specialized organ, located at the end of the female’s abdomen, which evolved from an ovipositor. This needle-like appendage is smooth. The smooth design of the wasp stinger allows it to penetrate a victim’s skin and be withdrawn easily.
Connected to the stinger is a venom apparatus, consisting of glands that produce venom and a sac for its storage. When a wasp stings, this venom is injected into the target. The venom is a complex mixture of substances, which cause pain, inflammation, and other physiological effects in the recipient.
The Fate of a Stinging Wasp
Wasps do not die after stinging and do not lose their stinger. The smooth nature of their stinger allows them to retract it from the skin without causing significant internal damage to themselves. This contrasts sharply with honey bees, whose barbed stingers often become lodged in a victim’s skin, pulling out part of the bee’s digestive tract and leading to its death.
Because their stinger remains intact, wasps are capable of stinging multiple times. The ability to sting repeatedly is a key difference in defensive capabilities between wasps and honey bees.
Why Wasps Sting (and Sting Again)
Wasps sting as a defensive measure. They employ their stinger to protect themselves or their nest from threats. This defensive behavior is particularly pronounced when their nest or territory is disturbed.
Beyond defense, some predatory wasp species also use their stinger to subdue prey. Their venom can paralyze insects, making it easier for the wasp to transport the prey back to its nest as food for its larvae. Since their stinger is not lost, wasps retain this weapon for both defense and hunting, allowing them to sting repeatedly if they continue to feel threatened or are capturing prey. Some wasp species, such as yellow jackets, can become more aggressive in late summer when food resources become scarcer and their colonies reach peak size.