Bees' Stings

Abstract

CAN any of your readers inform me why the working honey-bee has such an imperfect weapon of defence as its sting manifestly is? For purposes of self-defence it is apparently worse than useless, for in nearly every case, almost without exception, the bee lays down its life with the sting. The possession of a sting therefore only leads to its own destruction instead of to its preservation so far as the individual bee is concerned. No doubt the hive generally gains an advantage from all its active members having stings and so indirectly do individual bees from the fact that the welfare of the hive, speaking generally, means the welfare of the individuals that compose it. Directly, however, the possession of a sting can only be a disadvantage to the individual bee, unless there are certain enemies from which bees after inflicting a wound can withdraw their stings and escape with life. This so far as my observations go appears to be very unlikely, and therefore no bee can have any knowledge from experience of what a weapon of offence he possesses for he has never used it, nor can he have knowledge from experience of the consequence of using it. All smaller pests bees attack with their jaws. Is it possible, then, that they are so intelligent as to be well aware of the power for mischief to themselves as well as to others which they carry about with them, and that it is only when they altogether lose control over themselves, either through severe pain or through terror lest their queen should be injured that they sign their own death-warrants on our hands and faces? In the death of a few worker-bees a hive suffers very little loss, perhaps none at all; yet it may have gained much in the shape of security from molestation. Are bees so intelligent as to know this fact and communicate it from one to another, or can their conduct be explained on the lower ground of instinct?