do bumble bees die when they sting

Bumble bees do not die when they sting. Unlike honey bees, which have barbed stingers that get stuck in the skin and cause the bee to die after stinging, bumble bees have smooth, un-barbed stingers that allow them to sting multiple times without dying. Bumble bee stingers can be withdrawn and used again, so they survive the stinging process. Only female bumble bees have stingers and can sting, and they generally sting only when threatened or defending their nest.