Why Do Bees Die After Stinging?

05/11/2025 12 min
Why Do Bees Die After Stinging?

Listen "Why Do Bees Die After Stinging?"

Episode Synopsis

Honeybees are remarkable creatures. They produce delicious honey, construct intricate beehives, and pollinate plants with their fuzzy legs and bodies. But why do these innocent-looking creatures evolve to perish after delivering a sting to predators? What makes self-defense so terminal for them? Discover the reasons behind this phenomenon.
Timeline:
00:00: Why do bees die after stinging?
00:32: The science of the honeybee stinger
01:22: Anatomy of the stinger: Barbed blades & venom injection
02:10: Why barbs make removal impossible
02:53: Sting autonomy: How the stinger rips off
03:48: Post-sting survival
05:16: Evolution of the stinger
06:13: Other self-sacrificing insects
07:35: Honeybees vs. wasps
08:49: Why honeybees evolved a single-use stinger
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Produced by Andres SalazarHosting and art by Danielle DufaultEditing by Jason ByrneVisual Research by Jan Aliño
Examining the nature of the beast.

00:00: Why do bees die after stinging?00:32: The science of the honeybee stinger01:22: Anatomy of the stinger: Barbed blades & venom injection02:10: Why barbs make removal impossible02:53: Sting autonomy: How the stinger rips off03:48: Post-sting survival05:16: Evolution of the stinger06:13: Other self-sacrificing insects07:35: Honeybees vs. wasps08:49: Why honeybees evolved a single-use stinger
#honeybee #bee #sting #insects #nature #wildlife #self-defense #evolution
See show notes: https://inlet.fm/animalogic/episodes/68153969b43e2bbaf74142ab
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