Honeybees die after stinging humans and other mammals because their stinger, which is barbed, gets lodged in the victim's thick skin. When the bee tries to fly away, the entire stinging apparatus—including the venom sac, muscles, and parts of the bee's abdomen—is ripped from its body. This massive abdominal rupture is fatal. However, bees can sting other insects without dying because their stingers can be easily withdrawn from the insect's exoskeleton. The barbed stinger and its detachment mechanism evolved as a defense against larger animals, sacrificing the individual bee for the protection of the hive.
The phenomenon of a honeybee's demise following a sting is a consequence of its uniquely barbed stinger, a characteristic not shared by all stinging insects. This barbed structure, intricately designed with backward-facing projections, becomes irrevocably lodged within the relatively thick skin of mammals, particularly humans. When the bee attempts to withdraw after stinging, this anchoring mechanism prevents a clean extraction. Instead, the entire stinging apparatus, including the venom sac, muscles, and associated nerves, is forcibly ripped from the bee's abdomen. This traumatic evisceration inflicts a fatal injury.
This biological mechanism, while ultimately lethal to the individual bee, contributes significantly to the defense of the colony. The detached venom sac continues to pulsate, actively pumping venom into the perceived threat long after the bee's departure. This maximized venom delivery increases the pain and deterrent effect, contributing to the overall protection of the hive and its precious resources. The sacrifice of a single worker bee, while seemingly detrimental, serves as a potent defense strategy against larger predators that pose a substantial threat to the colony's survival.
In contrast to honeybees, other stinging insects, like wasps and hornets, possess smooth stingers which allow them to sting repeatedly without suffering the same self-destructive consequences. This difference stems from the evolutionary pressures and survival strategies adopted by different species within the Hymenoptera order. Honeybees, with their focus on resource accumulation and colony defense, have evolved this unique, albeit fatal, defense mechanism. The powerful deterrent effect of their sting, amplified by the continued venom delivery after detachment, serves as a compelling deterrent against potential threats, effectively safeguarding the collective well-being of the hive.
Summary of Comments ( 18 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42749069
Hacker News users discuss the evolutionary reasons behind honeybee stinging behavior. Some question the article's premise, pointing out that only worker bees, not queens or drones, have barbed stingers that cause them to die after stinging. Several commenters explain that this sacrifice benefits the hive's survival by allowing the worker bee to continue injecting venom even after detaching. Others suggest that since worker bees are sterile females, their individual survival is less crucial than defending the colony and the queen's reproductive capacity. One commenter highlights the difference between honeybees and other stinging insects like wasps and hornets, which can sting multiple times. Another points out that the stinger evolved primarily for inter-species defense, particularly against other insects and small mammals raiding the hive, not for stinging large mammals like humans.
The Hacker News post "Why do bees die when they sting you?" with ID 42749069 has several comments discussing various aspects of bee stings and the biology behind them.
Several commenters elaborate on the mechanics of the bee sting, explaining that only honeybees have barbed stingers that get lodged in the victim's skin, pulling out the bee's venom sac and other vital organs in the process, leading to its death. They clarify that other bees, wasps, and hornets can sting multiple times because their stingers are smooth and retractable. Some users share personal anecdotes of being stung by different types of bees and wasps, comparing the pain levels and aftermath.
A significant part of the discussion revolves around the evolutionary reasons why honeybees evolved this suicidal defense mechanism. The prevailing theory, as mentioned in several comments, is that it benefits the hive more than the individual bee. By sacrificing itself, the bee ensures maximum venom delivery, increasing the deterrent effect and protecting the colony from larger predators. This altruistic behavior is highlighted as a key example of kin selection.
Another point of discussion is the composition and effects of bee venom. Commenters mention the various components of venom, including melittin, apamin, and phospholipase A2, and their respective roles in causing pain, inflammation, and allergic reactions. There's also some discussion on the potential therapeutic benefits of bee venom, with some users mentioning its use in apitherapy for treating conditions like arthritis and multiple sclerosis, though acknowledging the lack of strong scientific evidence for many of these claims.
Some commenters delve deeper into the specifics of bee anatomy and physiology, discussing the structure of the stinger, the muscles involved in venom injection, and the role of pheromones in attracting other bees to defend the hive. Others share interesting facts about different bee species, their social structures, and their roles in pollination.
A few comments touch upon the ethical considerations of exploiting bees for honey and other products, highlighting the importance of sustainable beekeeping practices and the negative impact of pesticides and habitat loss on bee populations.
Finally, there are some lighthearted comments about the unfortunate wording of the article's title ("Why do bees die when they sting you?"), pointing out that bees don't necessarily die when they sting other insects or animals with thicker skin. This leads to a brief discussion about the different types of creatures that bees might sting and the varying outcomes.
Overall, the comments section provides a rich and multifaceted discussion about bee stings, going beyond the simple explanation of the barbed stinger to explore evolutionary biology, venom composition, bee behavior, and even ethical considerations.