Bees are insects that are closely related to wasps and ants. They are known for pollination and providing honey. Many of you must have seen a bee once in your life. But does the thought that why do bees sting people cross your mind? This article will give you a brief about bees and the reason why do bees sting if they die.
1. How many Species of Bees are there?
There are over sixteen thousand best-known species of bees in seven recognized biological families. Some species like honeybees, bumblebees, and stingless bees live socially in colonies whereas most species (>90%) like mason bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees live solitarily. Bees kill nectar and spore to have food for their larvae. The first kind of species primarily spores to have an energy supply, while the latter pollinate to have macromolecule and alternative nutrients. (See All Types of Dinosaur Names and Pictures)
2. What is the Origin of Bees?
Through the ages, bees evolved for more than 135 million years. So, honeybees were derived from an ancient form of bees that are discovered in Asia about 300 thousand years ago. They later spread around the continents like Europe and Africa. Additionally, the analysis from 1980 to 2013 of 353 wild bees and hoverfly species across Great Britain found that the insects have lost almost one-fourth of the places they inhabited in 1980. To know why do bees sting people, read the next segment. (See How to Identify Bugs in My Garden)
3. Why do Bees sting People?
Bees are naturally attracted to bright colors and certain smells. Hence, they pollinate on bright color flowers and sense them due to the peripheral vision they have. So, if you are wearing bright-colored clothes or have sticky hands, they might mistake you for a flower or get attracted to the smell of your hand. For instance, they sometimes get attracted to the smell of food. (See Do Bees Have Ears?)
Moreover, just like a wild animal, they also react if they sense you as a danger. Thus, to avoid a bee sting, keep yourself clean and be careful in case you are near a hive. As you read why do bees sting people, now you would not want to trigger them or appear like a danger to them. Must read the article on do insects sleep?
4. What happens to Bees after the sting?
Many people ask this question, why do bees sting if they die? The reason for stinging people has been explained above. But what happens after they sting, is yet to answer. Many of you might not know that a male bee can’t sting. Thus, when a female bee stings a human, the venom inside its stingers is transferred to the person’s body. That sting might cause pain for about 10 minutes or until the venom is taken out. As for bees, the stinging process kills them as the stinger and other parts of their body get torn. (See Do Anteaters Eat Ants?)
5. Why are Bees important?
Bees play a crucial role in pollinating flowering plants. The pollination process is an important aspect of several ecosystems as almost one-third of the human food depends on fertilization done by insects and birds. And most of it is accomplished by bees, whether wild or domesticated. Moreover, the production of honey done by bees is another natural product that has perpetually appealed to humans. Thus, bee fertilization is vital, both, ecologically and economically. (Also read How to Get Rid of Gnats without Apple Cider Vinegar?)
6. What are the uses of Bees?
Honeybee colonies are used commercially to extract and supply honey. People have also started extracting other substances like pollen and propolis that can be used as dietary supplements or fertilizers. However, these products have a high chance of causing allergies. (See What is a Herd of Moose Called?)
Moreover, in some countries, bees are considered edible insects. Not only this but their larvae, pupae, and encompassing cells (referred to as bee brood) are also consumed. For example, bee larvae are consumed in Indonesia. The dish is called Botok Tawon, in which larvae are eaten with rice mixed with sliced coconut, that is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.
7. What is Apitherapy?
Apitherapy is a branch of medicine that uses honeybee products like raw honey, secretion, pollen, propolis, beeswax, and apitoxin (bee venom). There have been claims that say that apitherapy can treat cancer. However, some proponents of apitherapy build remain unsupported by evidence-based medicine. (Also read Are Humans the only Animals that Sweat?)
Hope you like this article and got your answer to why do bees sting people. Share it with your friends and leave your comments below if you have any. (See What does a Kraken Look Like?)
