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Why do honey bees only sting once while wasps and hornets can sting multiple times?

Last Updated: November 10, 2009

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The worker (female) honey bees stinger has a sharp barb (like that of a fish hook) at the tip that penetrates the surface and remains there along with the poison gland end the end of her abdomen. This is why she will die after stinging once. Wasps and hornets either have very small barbs that do not remain behind or the barb is sheathed and does not penetrate the surface.

- John Skinner, University of Tennessee

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