What is a bee stinger?
Quick Answer
A bee stinger is a modified egg-laying structure used for defense. In honeybees, the sting is barbed and can remain in the skin of mammals.
The Full Story
In many bees, the stinger evolved from the ovipositor, an egg-laying organ found in female insects. Honeybee workers have a barbed stinger that can lodge in mammal skin, often causing the bee to die after stinging because part of the stinging apparatus is torn away. Other bees have stingers that can be used more than once. The sting delivers venom that causes pain and swelling, helping deter threats. This defense system is one reason bees are usually nonaggressive unless their nest is disturbed.
Key Facts
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"Why a honeybee’s sting is a one-time weapon"
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