Bees are often recognized for their ability to sting, a defense mechanism that can be a source of concern for many. A common belief exists that all bees can only sting once, an idea largely stemming from observations of the familiar honey bee. This perception, however, overlooks the diverse stinging behaviors present across the many species of bees.
The Honey Bee’s Single Sting
Worker honey bees possess a unique stinging apparatus that results in their death after stinging a mammal. Their stinger is equipped with backward-facing barbs that, upon penetration into thicker skin, become firmly lodged. When the bee attempts to pull away, the barbed stinger, along with portions of its internal organs, is torn from its abdomen, leading to the bee’s death. This self-sacrificing act ensures the venom sac remains embedded, continuing to pump venom into the perceived threat even after the bee has departed. This mechanism serves as an effective defense for the hive, despite the individual bee’s sacrifice.
Bees with Multiple Stings
Many other bee species can sting multiple times. Bumblebees, for instance, are generally docile and will only sting if they feel threatened or if their nest is disturbed. Unlike honey bees, their stingers are smooth, allowing them to withdraw the stinger without self-injury and sting repeatedly.
Solitary bees, a broad group that includes mason bees, leafcutter bees, and mining bees, also possess the ability to sting more than once. These bees do not live in large colonies with a queen or honey stores to defend, making them less aggressive than social bees. While they can sting if provoked or handled, their sting is often described as mild, similar to a mosquito bite for mason bees. Sweat bees, often attracted to human perspiration, are another type of bee capable of stinging multiple times, though their sting is also considered very mild.
How Stinger Design Matters
The ability of a bee to sting once or many times is directly related to the anatomical design of its stinger. Worker honey bees have stingers with prominent barbs that act like a harpoon, anchoring into the skin. This design ensures maximum venom delivery but prevents retraction from elastic tissue, causing the bee to disembowel itself.
In contrast, bees that can sting repeatedly, such as bumblebees and solitary bees, have stingers that are smooth or have very small barbs. This smoother design allows the bee to easily pull its stinger out of the victim’s skin after injecting venom. The absence of large barbs means the stinger does not get lodged, enabling the bee to survive the encounter and use its defense mechanism again if necessary.