If you have ever been stung by a honey bee, you probably noticed that it didn’t get very far afterward. You might wonder, why honey bees sting if it will kill them. If honey bees die after defending themselves, there must be a reason. Bees are fascinating creatures that work very hard to raise and protect their hives. Female honey bee workers are the ones who do most of the attacking, as the queen bee rarely leaves the hive. Worker bees will sting without a second thought when they feel threatened.
The Honey Bee’s Purpose is to Protect
Since honey bee workers are infertile, they collect nectar and pollen to feed the beehive and protect the hive from threats. Honey bee workers are like disposable soldiers. They provide so the queen bee can keep reproducing, and new bees can survive to take over the throne and maintain the hive in the future, continuing the life cycle. Honey bees aren’t aware that stinging will lead to death, and they attack instinctively.
The Honey Bees’ Death
The stinger of a honey bee consists of two parts, consisting of two rows of saw-toothed blades. These blades scissor into your flesh, and once they are in, they don’t retract. The only way for the honey bee to pull out of your skin is to self-amputate, leaving behind part of its digestive tract, muscles, and nerves. This abdominal rupture kills the bee. However, even though the bee is dead, the stinger continues to work, pumping venom into your body.
The Threat Remains
Nerve cells continue to control the stinger, and the blades dig deeper into your skin, releasing venom into your wound for minutes after the bee is gone. The stinger must be removed immediately, or the effects can be detrimental. The scent of the venom may even reach the rest of the worker bees and signal a war. This scent is a mixture of alarm pheromones that excites the beehive because it’s a sign that there’s a threat nearby. Causing the worker bees to get prepared to sting anything that comes their way.
The Stinger is Their Weapon
Honey bees use their stingers as a weapon for any threat, whether it’s an insect or a human. Luckily, their stingers don’t get stuck in all animals. When they sting large insects, the honey bees can pull out their stingers safely and survive. However, humans and other types of mammals with thick skin trap the stinger and leave no other option for the bees. Honey bees are the only type of bees that die once they have stung you.
The Importance of Honey Bees
Honeybees play an important role in our ecosystem. They are key pollinators, helping in the growth of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Understanding why honey bees sting and die can help us appreciate their role in nature and the importance of preserving their populations.
To learn more information on honey bee behavior and protection methods, check out these valuable resources.
Little Giant Beekeepers is Your Protection
Honey bees will sting you as soon as they feel threatened. Even after they die, their venom will pump through your body, bringing you discomfort, and it can even have detrimental effects on your health. The scent of the venom will arouse the rest of the bees against you. If you see bees buzzing inside your house, or a good number of them outside your home, there is a high chance that a beehive is nearby. Don’t wait another minute; contact Little Giant Beekeepers today! We will get rid of the beehive as quickly as possible to avoid any further threats.
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