One of the defensive strategies bees and wasps have developed is to cause their enemies’ own internal defenses to overreact and incapacitate them from within. These histamines mobilize the immune system against what it interprets to be foreign invaders, causing inflammation. Related > Ouch! The Insect Sting Pain Scale Phase 2: Swellingīees and wasps also release histamines into their victim’s bloodstream when they sting. Wasp venom also contains traces of acetylcholine, another chemical that stimulates pain receptors. This attack on the nervous system is experienced as a combination of burning and itching. By burying their stingers in their victim’s flesh, bees inject an acidic compound called melittin, which switches on the victim's pain receptors. To drive away predators, bees and wasps deliver venom through their stingers. While males (drones) may behave aggressively, they are not equipped with stingers, which are actually modified ovipositors (egg-laying organs). Some carnivorous wasps also use their stingers to paralyze their prey.Īll stinging bees and wasps are females. When threatened by a predator, these bees and wasps spring into action. Some bees and wasps are assigned the duty of defending the colony.
Each bee and wasp has a specific role within the colony. Like their cousins, bees and wasps are social creatures that live in large colonies. Why do bees and wasps sting?īees and wasps belong to the order Hymenoptera, which means they're related to ants. For some people, they can even trigger allergic reactions that can be life-threatening if not treated properly.īut beyond the symptoms - the initial searing pain, the swelling and the lingering discomfort - how do these stings actually work? The answer to this question is as complicated as the insects themselves.
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