Structures, properties, and functions of the stings of honey bees and paper wasps: a comparative study

• Published in: Biology open Vol. 4; no. 7; pp. 921 - 928
• Main Authors: Zhao, Zi-Long, Zhao, Hong-Ping, Ma, Guo-Jun, Wu, Cheng-Wei, Yang, Kai, Feng, Xi-Qiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Company of Biologists Ltd 15.07.2015; The Company of Biologists
• Subjects: Apis mellifera; Bees; Biomimetics; Comparative studies; Honey; Honey bee; Hymenoptera; Insertion; Mechanical property; Natural selection; Paper wasp; Penetration; Sting; Stings; Vespidae; Penetration; Biomimetics; Honey bee; Mechanical property; Paper wasp; Sting
• ISSN: 2046-6390; 2046-6390
• DOI: 10.1242/bio.012195

Through natural selection, many animal organs with similar functions have evolved different macroscopic morphologies and microscopic structures. Here, we comparatively investigate the structures, properties and functions of honey bee stings and paper wasp stings. Their elegant structures were systematically observed. To examine their behaviors of penetrating into different materials, we performed penetration-extraction tests and slow motion analyses of their insertion process. In comparison, the barbed stings of honey bees are relatively difficult to be withdrawn from fibrous tissues (e.g. skin), while the removal of paper wasp stings is easier due to their different structures and insertion skills. The similarities and differences of the two kinds of stings are summarized on the basis of the experiments and observations.