Bee sting: where it is and what it looks like, functions and how to get it after a bite

To protect themselves from natural enemies, bees use a special organ located in the lower part of the abdomen. Special glands produce poisonous substances that enter the sting and, if necessary, are injected into the body of the enemy. How else insects use the sting and why the bees die after using it, we will look into the details further.

Where is the sting of a bee and what does it look like

The sting is a modified reproductive organ that is located in the back of the abdomen of insects. If workers use it to protect themselves from external enemies, then the queen of the hive lays eggs with the help of a sting, and in rare cases uses it to fight other queens.

Depending on the age, sex and breed of insects, the bee sting can vary in design and size from 2 to 4 mm.

• The pointed ovipositor has notches. In working individuals, there are up to 10 such notches on the sting, in the uterus - no more than 4.
• The fixed part consists of elongated plates, slides, their processes and palps.
• The movable part of the pointed process has a more complex structure, consisting of a large triangle-shaped plate, venom glands, many square-shaped plates, stylets, muscles, and a special compartment for the accumulation of toxic substances.

The queen of the hive has the largest sting size, which uses it for its intended purpose for laying eggs.

Important! Only females have an ovipositor, so this organ is completely absent in drones.

Functions of the sting and features of the poison

Initially, the functions of the ovipositor were intended solely for the production of offspring. But in the process of evolution, the organ changed and began to be used by insects to protect their nest, nectar and masonry.

The ventral part of honey minke whales is movable, easy to bend, which contributes to the rapid release of the sting and a targeted blow to the enemy with a poisonous substance. In the process of defense, the protective organ of one individual releases up to 0.3 mg of poison, which penetrates the body of the enemy. If a person is attacked by a whole swarm of bees, then the concentration of toxic substances reaches 0.2 g, which can lead to death.

Due to numerous notches, insects cannot get the sting out of the enemy's epidermis layer, so the sharp needle remains in the skin and continues to release toxic substances for a long time.

The poisonous substance is colorless, has a pleasant smell, and is intensively used in folk and traditional medicine for the manufacture of various preparations and ointments.

Interesting! Unlike workers, the hive queen uses the organ to increase her offspring as an ovipositor. For defense, the queen uses her sting only when fighting other females claiming dominance in the hive.

Stinging process

The jaws of honey insects are not adapted for bites and defense against opponents. Therefore, for their protection, the bees use the sting located in the back of the abdomen. If the minke whales are in a calm state, the sting is in a special channel and tightly closed with protective plates.

When a threat appears, the bees bend their abdomen, release a needle into the surface of the enemy's skin and inject poison.

After a bite, insects fly away, but with a sharp jerk, the jagged poisonous organ breaks off and remains in the body of the enemy.

Differences from wasp sting

Unlike bees, the sting of wasps is not equipped with teeth that hold it in the surface of the skin of the enemy. Therefore, wasps are able to inflict several bites at once.

Main differences between the sting of wasps and bees:

• the stinging organ of the wasp is not equipped with a gland with a toxic substance, the poison enters the body of the enemy through the duct, which is located between the needle and the sled;
• after a wasp sting, it easily removes the stinging organ from the skin of the enemy without consequences for its he alth;
• bees use their defense organ only in case of danger, and wasps can sting for no particular reason, responding to sudden movements or strong odors with aggressive behavior.

Fact! During the attack, the wasp can use its sting up to 5 times without removing the stinging organ inside the abdomen. Also, the mouth parts of insects are equipped with a powerful, strong jaw, with which wasps bite.

How long does a bee live after being bitten

In the process of defensive actions, the jagged organ remains in the body of the enemy, and the bees fly away with an open wound. Due to severe damage after a sting, the bees live for several hours and die.

If minke whales protect themselves from insects covered with a hard chitinous shell, the stinging organ is freely removed from the body of the enemy, and the bee remains alive and unharmed. But if attacked by other bees or wasps and getting stung, honey whales die.

What to do if a bee stings

In case of a bee sting, it is necessary to remove the sting from the skin, and treat the wound with antiseptic preparations. If you are prone to allergic reactions, you should take antihistamines.

Insect bites can also be relieved with a cold compress, pain medication and baking soda.

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