The ability of a bee to sting repeatedly depends entirely on its species and the unique biological structure of its defensive organ. This anatomical difference separates the honeybee, which makes a singular sacrifice, from the vast majority of other stinging insects that can deploy their stinger multiple times without harm. Understanding this distinction requires looking closely at the specific design of the bee’s stinger and how it interacts with the skin of a victim.
The One-Time Stinger: The Honeybee Mechanism
The honeybee, particularly the European honeybee, is the source of the widespread belief that all bees die after stinging. This fatal outcome is due to the structure of the worker honeybee’s stinger, which is equipped with sharp, backward-pointing barbs. These barbs are effective at anchoring the stinger securely into the thick, elastic skin of mammals, like humans.
When the bee attempts to pull away from the wound, the barbs prevent the stinger from being easily withdrawn. Instead, the entire stinging apparatus, which is attached to the bee’s abdomen by internal tissues, is torn away from the body. This traumatic evisceration results in a gaping hole in the bee’s lower abdomen, leading to its rapid death. The detached apparatus, including the stinger, the venom sac, and associated muscles, continues to pump venom into the victim for a short time.
Bees That Can Sting Multiple Times
The majority of bee species, including bumblebees and solitary bees like carpenter bees, possess a stinger with a smooth structure, contrasting sharply with the honeybee’s barbed design. These smooth stingers allow the insect to penetrate the skin and then easily pull the entire apparatus back out without causing self-inflicted injury. A bumblebee or carpenter bee can therefore sting a person or animal multiple times if they feel sufficiently threatened or their nest is disturbed.
Carpenter bees have a particularly smooth, needle-like stinger, allowing for repeated use. Female bumblebees are also capable of stinging more than once, though they are generally docile and only do so when provoked in defense of their colony. The queen honeybee, whose stinger is used primarily to dispatch rival queens, also has a less-barbed stinger than her worker counterparts, meaning she can sting repeatedly without dying.
What to Do Immediately After Being Stung
Immediate action after a sting should focus on minimizing the amount of venom entering the body, particularly if a honeybee was the culprit. If the stinger is visible, it should be removed as quickly as possible, since the detached venom sac will continue to pulse and inject venom for up to a minute.
The preferred technique is to use a scraping motion to flick the stinger out, which can be accomplished with a fingernail or the edge of a rigid object like a credit card. This scraping method is recommended over using tweezers or pinching, as squeezing the apparatus might force residual venom into the skin.
However, speed is the most important factor, and removing the stinger quickly by any means is better than delaying. After removal, the area should be thoroughly washed with soap and water to clean the wound and reduce the risk of infection. Applying a cold compress or ice pack to the site can then help reduce localized swelling and alleviate the associated pain.