The information that bees die when they bite someone is very well known, but have you ever stopped to think if this is really true? We have already advanced that no, not every bee dies after stinging. Continue reading to better understand the truth behind this common myth and why some bees actually die when they attack someone.
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Why do some bee species die after stinging?
The explanation is in stinger anatomy of these bees, which is barbed and therefore gets stuck in the victim's skin, pumping out venom. You may ask yourself “okay, but what is the problem with that?”, the question is that as the stinger grows detaches from the body of the bee, vital organs, such as the intestine, for example, are also pulled and separated from them.
The bee is able to survive a few hours after the sting, however, fluid loss and internal organ failure eventually causes it to fail and die. Interesting, isn't it? Now you understand where the myth that every bee dies after being stung came from. However, see below why this is not true for all species of this insect.
Not all bees die when they sting someone.
There are more than 20,000 species of bees, so they can have different stingers, as well as different ways of attacking, while some can't even sting. Also, know that there are around 500 species of bees that do not have stingers. For this reason, the idea that every bee dies after stinging is, in itself, a big problem. myth widespread.
Curiosity: How do stingless bees defend themselves?
Stingless species do their best to protect themselves. That way, some bite, others curl up in the hair or enter organs like ears, nose and eyes. Another curiosity is that a species of bee popularly known as “caga-fire” releases a secretion that burns the skin when it comes into contact with sweat.