i know, this is a childish questions, but what is the purpose of ths stinger? Is it for protection? don't they die after they sting someone? i never really cared about bees so i never knew, until last night i began to wonder...
2007-01-15 03:13:27 · 7 answers · asked by Andii 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
To answer your question I feel it's important to mention some important details about bees. Bees live in a colony usually containing a few hundred or a few thousand individuals. There is one queen bee living inside the hive whose job is to lay eggs. The majority of bees (especially ones you see flying around) are called worker bees. All worker bees are female. Male bees are called drones, and will fertilize the queen's eggs. Drones do not have stingers.
Only female bees have stingers, because stingers are actually modified ovipositors (a tube female insects use to lay their eggs). Males don't have ovipositors, so they don't have stingers. Worker bees can't reproduce (unlike the queen), so over time they have evolved a use for their ovipositors - defending the hive. Their stingers are now hooked and have venom sacs.
The reason a bee dies when it stings a human is because stingers were not designed for human skin. Once the stinger is in the skin and the hooks have taken a hold, the bee cannot pull its stinger back out, so when it pulls away, it rips out a lot of the bee's insides, and the bee dies. If a bee stung another insect, the bee could sting multiple times if it wanted to.
While queens do lay eggs, they can also use their ovipositor as a stinger. Their stinger is smooth, which allows them to sting humans and other animals multiple times.
Bees use their stingers in self defense and to defend the hive. In many species, bees release a certain pheromone (an invisible, scented chemical) after stinging, which signals other bees nearby to sting too. Africanized honey bees (or killer bees) are infamous for this, and that's why when one killer bee stings a person, the other bees all sting at once, and a person can be stung hundreds of times.
2007-01-15 03:57:49 · answer #1 · answered by Megan 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do Queen Bees Have Stingers
2016-11-10 07:40:36 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why Do Bees Have Stingers
2016-12-26 11:28:50 · answer #3 · answered by krolick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The stinger is a defense mechanism. It is used for protection of the colony or hive. While indeed the insect can and will die from using the stinger, it will serve the purpose of protecting the entire colony. Likewise, attacking animal like bears seeking honey, will learn that the stinger is aversive and will learn to avoid attacks upon the colony. So in essence, the stinger also teaches attackers to avoid the colony as well.
2007-01-15 03:22:42 · answer #4 · answered by Kerry 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
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After this length of time I would say the stinger has gone. Did you treat the stung area immediately after being stung? You should apply a little Benadryl cream to the area, as well as take a anti-histamine. Ice compression may help reduce the swelling. For future reference you should never use tweezers to pull be stings out, by using tweezers it will push more venom in, because you squish the venom sack. Use a blunt knife or card to scrape out the stinger, and then apply ice compression, for 10 minutes on 10 minutes off over 4 hours. If allergic seek medical attention immediately, by calling an ambulance, and take any prescribed medication e.g Epi-pen. If any one shows signs of breathing difficulties, and swelling in around the face and mouth call for an ambulance, immediately, and continue to monitor until the ambulance crew arrive.
2016-04-01 01:33:19 · answer #5 · answered by Felicia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ouch! A bee sting is a painfully memorable experience, but do you know what actually happens (to the bee and to you) when a bee stings? Not all bees have stingers -- only those whose job it is to protect the hive. But there are other kinds of bees in a hive, whose jobs are as important as those of the stinging bees.
Bees belong to an ancient species that has continually adapted to the many challenges posed by the environment. As a result, a highly organized society has evolved. The development of a community lifestyle to ensure survival is but one example of the species' evolutionary adaptations.
2007-01-15 03:22:39 · answer #6 · answered by littlemomma 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds cool
2016-08-09 00:04:32 · answer #7 · answered by Sally 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
itis for protection. and the males have stingers for protection when they do 'their rounds'. yes, they do die after they sting. that part cannot be explained- yet.
2007-01-15 03:30:22 · answer #8 · answered by carissa 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To defend their colony.
2007-01-15 13:13:15 · answer #9 · answered by moosa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thank you all for your answers and opinions!
2016-08-23 15:14:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋