ABDOMEN
Sting:
Bumblebees are able to sting more than once unlike the honey bees. The sting of a bumblebee is smooth with no barbs, thus, they are able to sting more than once without dying. Figure 4.9 shows the sting of a bumblebee, whereas figure 4.10 shows the sting of a honeybee. In figure 4.0 (the structure of bee), note that the sting is not visible. This is because the sting is hidden internally in the last segment of the abdomen when not in use. In females, the sting is a modified ovipositor in worker bees, and the function is mainly for defence. The sting in queen bees are used for laying eggs. On the other hand, males do not have a sting, thus they pose no threat. |