Not disputing anything in today’s answer re: bees committing suicide by stinging; and I definitely don’t want to get into an evolution/creationism thing:
But why would barbed stingers be a trait selected as an advantage? What’s better about barbed stingers over un-barbed?
Easy. Barbed stingers are nastier to large animals to whom a bee sting is not fatal, or even crippling. (And note that it’s honeybees – just the ones that have to worry about agressive large animals.) And a few dozen dead workers are a trivial cost to the hive, compared to a major honey raid.
Yup. Think of it this way - would you rather be stuck by a hypodermic needle or a fish hook? The needle goes in and causes pain but is easily removed and the pain immediately begins to fade. The fish hook goes in and, because of the barbed tip, stays in. In fact, the barb causes the fish hook to work in ever deeper. A barbed stinger is much more difficult to remove and consequently keeps the victim in pain for a longer time. Which would you consider to be the better deterrent?
You’re right–that was easy.
Here’s how the honeybee’s sting works. When the bee stings, not only does the stinger pull out, but the venom gland attached to it. This leaves the bee essentially disemboweled and the stinger, lodged in your skin, pumping venom into you. It’s not the sting that hurts, it’s the venom. It’s also what you’re allergic to if you’re allergic to bee stings.
And the last needless point African “Killer” bees do not have anymore venom that European bees. It’s that the hive will inflict far more stings, subjecting you to a lot more venom.
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The Staff Report can be found on-line at this link:
Do honeybees realize that if they sting you they’ll die? (05-Sep-2001)
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John W. Kennedy wrote:
Tell me about it! I went on a major honey raid a couple years ago, and I only managed to get one lousy date. <rimshot>