do insects sting to survive?
Posted by genna patterson on March 26, 2006
Q: I'm doing an oral at school and i need to know if it is importatnt for bees and wasps and mamy more insects to sting a person?
Habitat: forest/open woods
Habitat: forest/open woods
A: There is definitely an advantage for an insect to be able to sting - most animals avoid bees and wasps. Insects have all kinds of ways to keep from becoming someone's meal. Insects may sting, fly away quickly, bite, be too hard to eat, stink, blend in to their surroundings, taste bad, on and on. Bees and wasps have evolved a special anatomical feature - the stinger - that gives them special protection from many animals but isn't foolproof. Of course, you probably already know that the stinger is a modified ovipositor (egg-laying tube) so only the females have them. If you're good enough to tell the difference between male and female wasps and bees, you can pick up the males and they won't/can't sting. Boy, will that impress your friends!
John Wiessinger ( March 27, 2006)