Bees, specifically honeybees, die after stinging because their stingers are barbed. When a honeybee stings a mammal, the barbed stinger becomes lodged in the thick skin and cannot be pulled out. In trying to free itself, the bee tears away part of its abdomen, including vital internal organs, which causes it to die shortly after.
The stinger remains embedded in the skin and continues to pump venom even after the bee has flown away or died. This mechanism helps protect the hive, as the venom signals other bees and discourages further attacks. This fatal self-sacrifice is unique mostly to honeybees, while many other bees, wasps, and hornets have smooth stingers allowing them to sting multiple times without dying.
In summary:
- Honeybees have barbed stingers that get stuck in mammalian skin.
- The bee loses part of its abdomen when the stinger is left behind, killing it.
- The stinger continues to inject venom after detachment.
- Other bees and wasps typically do not die after stinging because they have smooth stingers.
This self-sacrificial defense evolved to protect the hive more effectively from threats.
