Unprecedented Images Reveal How the Bee’s Sting Works

By studying in intimate detail the mechanism of a honeybee’s barbed stinger, researchers have identified the twofold process that allows these insects to deliver their venom with remarkable efficiency.

Miniature Pistons

Unlike wasps and other hornets, honeybees typically sting only once. This defensive strategy means their stinger remains embedded in the skin of the target, often tearing away part of the abdomen when they attempt to fly off. For more than a century, scientists have studied the venom-containing sac, but until now the precise workings of the components it holds remained unclear.

To address this gap, Fiorella Ramirez-Esquivel, from Macquarie University, and her colleagues used ultra-fast cameras and high-resolution micro-CT scanning.

Experiments conducted with a transparent gel that simulates human tissue helped clarify the role of two “lancets” equipped with flexible valves, which slide inside the chamber, or the “bulb” where venom accumulates before being injected.

When a valve drops, it expands against the chamber walls and acts as a piston to push venom toward the exit. On the rise, it retracts, allowing the chamber to refill while limiting fluid reflux into the wound. Mid-stroke, the two valves cross and deform briefly before resuming their pumping action.

A Marvel of Natural Engineering

According to the authors of the new study, published in the journal PNAS, this mechanism stands as a marvel of natural engineering.

“Traditional piston pumps typically integrate rigid components and valves to regulate fluid movement,” explains Ramirez-Esquivel. “Here, the bee achieves the same goal using flexible structures that twist and constantly change shape.”

By enhancing our understanding of the fascinating biology of bees, the recent findings could also pave the way for new types of micro-pumps, especially those integrated into medical devices, enabling unprecedented control over fluid flow.

Earlier this year, a study revealed that bees count the petals of flowers to optimize their daily foraging.