 |
 |
A honey bee stinger (Apis mellifera). Female worker bees rarely sting unless their hives are threatened. When they do, the stinger slices the skin of the victim and sacks of venom attached to the stinger are released. Barbs on the stinger anchor it so securely in the skin of the victim that the stinger separates from the abdomen of the bee, killing it. Most people are uncomfortable from a sting for an hour or so, but those who have severe allergic reactions to the venom may need immediate treatment for anaphylactic shock.
Image and text copyright © Dennis Kunkel. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
