How does a honeybee stinger actually pump venom? First-ever video shows it in action

By Fiorella Ramirez Esquivel, Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University

If you’ve ever been stung by a honeybee, you might know they have a special trick: they insert the stinger into your skin and leave it behind. As they fly away, the needle-like appendage keeps stinging you.

Losing the stinger can kill the bee by damaging its internal organs, so they don’t do it lightly. However, it means that even if the bee is crushed or brushed off, the stinger will continue to do its job – defending the hive. In fact, it takes over a minute to finish pumping after it enters the skin.

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