Many believe all bees die after stinging, but this is a misunderstanding. The outcome of a sting depends on the bee type and the target. This article explores why some bees survive and others do not, and the purpose of this defensive behavior.
The Honey Bee’s Sacrifice
Worker honey bees typically die after stinging a mammal. Their stinger has multiple barbs, similar to a fishing hook, designed to firmly anchor into elastic skin. When a honey bee stings, the barbed stinger, along with the venom sac and portions of its digestive tract, muscles, and nerves, becomes lodged in the skin and tears away as the bee attempts to fly. This process, known as autotomy or evisceration, results in a fatal abdominal injury, usually within minutes.
Even after detaching, the venom sac connected to the embedded stinger continues to pump venom into the wound. This sustained injection ensures a more potent delivery, acting as a stronger deterrent. The continuous pumping can last for several minutes, emphasizing the severity of the defense mechanism.
How Other Stinging Insects Survive
Most other stinging insects, including bumblebees, wasps, and queen honey bees, possess smooth stingers. This anatomical difference allows them to retract their stingers easily from a victim’s skin after stinging. Consequently, these insects can sting multiple times without fatal injuries.
Bumblebees and wasps primarily use their smooth stingers for defense against predators or to subdue prey, enabling repeated use. They do not face the same sacrifice as worker honey bees when encountering a threat. The “dying after stinging” rule applies specifically to worker honey bees due to their unique barbed stinger interaction with mammalian skin, rather than to all stinging insects.
The Purpose of a Bee’s Sting
Stinging behavior in social insects like honey bees primarily defends the entire colony, not just the individual. Honey bee colonies store valuable resources like honey, making them attractive targets for predators. The barbed stinger maximizes venom delivery and remains embedded, serving as an effective deterrent against larger threats, even at the cost of the individual bee’s life.
This self-sacrificial action exemplifies altruism, benefiting the hive’s collective survival. Worker bees contribute to the colony’s continuation by protecting the queen and future generations, even if it means foregoing their own lives. Bee venom itself is a complex mixture, intensifying the defensive response.