Why do bees sting?

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Bees sting as a form of self-defense. Bees live in their hives in groups called colonies, and they work to make honey and protect their queen. If a bee feels that a person or animal is threatening their colony or their queen, they will sting! Because the bee's stinger has little “hooks” on it, the stinger stays in the place where it has been inserted, such as a person's arm or an animal's back. Without its stinger, the bee then dies but has hopefully also helped to save or protect its colony!

A bee sting hurts because it has venom, which causes a painful reaction. Always get help from an adult if you get stung by a bee because removing the stinger the right way can make it less painful. Some people are allergic to the venom in bee stings, so these people need immediate help from an adult if they are stung, and they usually carry medicine with them to use in case they are stung.

Remember: Bees are the single most important animal to provide food on Earth! They won't hurt you unless you threaten them. Make sure we all protect bees!

by   (whyzz writer)
  • Further information

    When bees collect honey for the winter months they fly from flower to flower and bring pollen that sticks to their feet from one plant to the next. Bees (along with birds and butterflies) thereby ensure that we have fruits and vegetables to eat. And they ensure that other animals like cows, pigs, and chickens, also have food to eat. Bees keep the world fed!

  • Exploration


    What other animals have forms of self-defense? Bad-smelling skunk spray and the spiky quills of porcupines are both good examples. Why do you think it's important for animals to have special defenses like this?

