What is the purpose of a bee sting?

Question

It can't be for defence, because they die as soon as they have stung something.
Please help.

Answer 1

its for defence of the hive and so the queen, hundreds of bees stinging something would drive it away and therefore save the hive.

its all for the greater good and very noble.

Bees probably dont realise they die if they use there sting

Answer 2

Why Does A Bee Sting
A bee only stings under two conditions. To protect the colony or when frightened.

Why Does A Bee Die When It Stings?
When a bee stings, barbs in the lance of the sting cause it to firmly stick into the victim pulling out the venom sacs and glands when the bee is shaken off.
The venom sac muscles continue to pump after these organs have been torn from the dying bee.
Only the female workers and the queen can sting, the queen having a smooth sting, which she uses to kill other queens.

>^,,^<

here are one or two interesting sites on bees
hope this helps ,


When a bee stings, barbs in the lance of the sting cause it to firmly ... as a British bee, they are much more easily induced to sting and chase people. ...
homepage.ntlworld.com/gandboss/HoneyBeeFAQ/Biology/BiologyFrame.htm

Bee Sting Answer
... probably know that a honey bee will generally sting only to protect itself, as ... bee cannot withdraw the sting without tearing its abdomen, which results ...www.zephyrus.co.uk/beestinganswer.html -

Biology - Bee Behavior
When a bee stings, other bees in the immediate vicinity also try to sting in the ... Africanized bee is thought to be more genetically prone to sting than ...
maarec.cas.psu.edu/bkCD/HBBiology/bee_behavior.htm bee sting:

Information from Answers.com
The noun bee sting has one meaning: Meaning #1 : a sting inflicted by a ... The Biology of the Honeybee, Apis Mellifera accessed June 2006 ...
www.answers.com/topic/bee-sting-2

Answer 3

It IS the ultimate defence mechanism.
A Bee will, as a last resort sting its prey or anything that may threaten the hive and ultimately the Queen. In the Bee society, Workers and Drones are expendable and programmed to die if necessary.

Answer 4

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Wasps and hornets are mainly hunters of insects, while bees collect nectar, to make honey. With large amounts of honey in an average honey bee nest, the main purpose of a bee sting is to defend the nest and the colony against any attack, from mice and other animals, right up to humans. A honey bee loses the stinger mechanism (and the poison sac) with a single sting. In fact, the poison sac will continue to pump venom even after it is ripped from the bee, pumping even more venom after the bee is gone. Therefore, bee stings can often cause a more severe reaction because of the amount of venom.

Answer 5

Only certain bees have stings that get seperated from their bodies.

Stings are mainly for defense.

The bees which have very strong poison have detachable stings (and a very huge population also), where the stings stick on the victim's body and cause terrible pain. This also dictates instant death to the bees, who lose almost 60% of their abdomen.

The bees which have non-detachable stings have weaker poison and they return often to sting the victim till the enemy is warded off. It is typically a warning signal for defence.

Answer 6

I agree with the others. It's to defend the hive.
I was attacked by a swarm of bees in September last when I stood on the hive.
I've also heard that when you kill a bee it releases a scent that attracts other bees...another part of the defense mechanism?

Answer 7

It's a species defence. Once you've been stung, you're unlikely to go pestering bees again. The individual dies, but it teaches a valuable lesson to benefit the species.

The black and yellow stripes are a warning to predators to remember the pain. Try feeding birds anything coloured in black and yellow stripes and they'll turn their noses up.

Answer 8

it is for defence - but not of themselves. defence of the hive and queen. bees are social insects and each bee has a part to play in the colony. when they sting a potential threat it is for the 'general good' so as to speak - they want to defend their queen and other hive mates.

Answer 9

Its beneficial for the species.

Although one bee has died it has taught the recipient of the sting a lesson, so it will think twice about taking on another bee.

Answer 10

i doubt the Bee realises that until it's 2 late.
most bees, with the exception of solitary drone bees,
they usually work as a team, survival of the hive may make them kamikaze, 4 the cause.