Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: smart on 24/09/2017 09:39:56
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Do bees commit suicide when stinging someone?
What do you think?
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Suicide implies that the bee deliberately sacrifices itself, but the bee doesn't know it will die when stinging a human. Even if it could learn by observing others it wouldn't get a consistent message. Bees mainly use their stinger to attack invading insects and the stinger doesn't get stuck in their carapace, it only gets stuck in human skin and as they struggle to escape the stinger and venom sac get pulled out - major trauma injury.
If you get strung and can grasp the bee carefully by the wings, it will rotate and the stinger will be released, this even works with the rubber gloves I use for beekeeping. However, do rub the stung area with lavender oil it will relieve the inflammation and hide the attack pheromone that attracts other bees to sting you.
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An individual bee is genetically-programmed to act in the interest of the superorganism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene-centered_view_of_evolution#Individual_altruism_and_genetic_egoism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superorganism
... venom sac get pulled out - major trauma injury ...
That's a feature rather than a bug : the venom sac keeps pumping even when detached ...
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An individual bee is genetically-programmed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene-centered_view_of_evolution#Individual_altruism_and_genetic_egoism) to act in the interest of the superorganism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superorganism).
And what is that supposed to mean exactly?
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An individual bee is genetically-programmed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene-centered_view_of_evolution#Individual_altruism_and_genetic_egoism) to act in the interest of the superorganism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superorganism).
And what is that supposed to mean exactly?
Did you click on the links to see if they told you?
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... venom sac get pulled out - major trauma injury ...
That's a feature rather than a bug : the venom sac keeps pumping even when detached ...
It does indeed, that's why if it becomes detached and stick in your skin, your first move is to scrape it off with something sharp.