Honeybee stinging a finger
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Honeybee stinging a finger
Bee sting. View of a honeybee Apis mellifera in the process of stinging a human finger. At lower centre, the sting has embedded in skin, while the bee pulls away rupturing its seventh abdominal segment and mortally injuring itself. The sting carries with it nerve and muscle tissue that work to pump poison (peptides) into the finger. The tip of the sting is armed with backward sloping barbs which make it difficult to remove once embedded. Cells around the sting also exude a pheromone odour that attracts other bees to attack the same site. Only female worker bees are able to sting. This barbed device was originally an egg-laying organ that evolved into a weapon of defence
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6461654
© DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Apis Mellifera Bee Sting Bees Finger Insecta Ovipositor Sting
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a dramatic moment between a honeybee and a human finger. In this intense encounter, we witness the intricate process of a honeybee stinging its target. At the lower center of the image, we can see the bee's sting firmly embedded in the skin while it pulls away from its victim. This action unfortunately results in the rupture of its seventh abdominal segment, leading to mortal injury for the brave insect. The sting itself carries not only venomous peptides but also nerve and muscle tissue that work together to pump poison into the finger. The tip of this barbed weapon is armed with backward sloping barbs, making removal difficult once embedded. Moreover, cells surrounding the sting release a pheromone odor that attracts other bees to attack at the same site. It is interesting to note that only female worker bees possess this remarkable ability to sting as they defend their hive against potential threats. Originally an egg-laying organ, evolution has transformed this structure into an effective defensive mechanism for these industrious insects. This extraordinary photograph serves as a reminder of nature's intricacies and showcases both beauty and danger within our natural world.
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