A common question about stinging insects is which ones die after stinging. Many people believe that all bees die after stinging, but this is a partial misconception. Stinging is primarily a defense mechanism, used by various insects to protect themselves or their colony.
The Honey Bee’s Sacrifice
The honey bee, Apis mellifera, is the primary bee species known to die after stinging a mammal. This unique outcome is due to the distinct design of its stinger. A honey bee’s stinger possesses prominent barbs, like small hooks, that anchor it firmly into the victim’s skin, especially in thick, elastic skin such as that of humans.
Unlike other stinging insects, the honey bee’s barbed stinger is not easily retracted once embedded. This barbed structure is a specialized adaptation, allowing the stinger to remain lodged and continue delivering venom. This design explains why a honey bee’s sting against a mammal is often a fatal event for the bee.
The Mechanism of Death
A honey bee dies after stinging a human or other mammal due to its barbed stinger. Once the stinger is lodged in the skin, the bee attempts to pull away. However, the barbs prevent the stinger from detaching cleanly. Instead, the stinger, venom sac, and a portion of the bee’s internal organs (including parts of its digestive tract, muscles, and nerves) are torn from its body.
This severe abdominal rupture, known as evisceration, causes massive internal damage. Even after the bee separates, the detached stinger often continues to pump venom into the wound due to nerve and muscle contractions in the expelled tissue. This ensures a full dose of venom is delivered, but the injury is too severe for the bee to survive, leading to its death shortly after.
Other Stinging Insects
Not all stinging insects, or even all bees, die after stinging. Many other bee species, like bumblebees and carpenter bees, have smooth stingers lacking the prominent barbs of a honey bee’s stinger. This allows them to easily withdraw their stinger without self-inflicted injury. Consequently, these bees can sting multiple times if threatened.
Similarly, wasps and hornets also have smooth, needle-like stingers. Their stingers are designed for repeated insertion and retraction, enabling them to sting multiple times without dying. This difference in stinger anatomy is a key factor in how various stinging insects defend themselves, with the honey bee’s barbed stinger being an exception.