How Do Bee Stingers Work? Stated Clearly

Support my work on Patreon: / statedclearly
Discover the fascinating complexity of honeybee stingers under an electron microscope, and learn how they work to defend the hive. This video explores the intricate structure and function of a bee's stinger, comparing diagrams to actual footage and high-resolution images. Uncover the details of the venom delivery system and how it enables bees to protect their colony. Although honeybees are gentle creatures, their stingers pack a powerful punch that can cause intense pain or even be deadly in rare cases. Get ready to appreciate one of nature's most amazing weapons!
Special thanks to the scientists who advised on this animation:
Nancy Miorelli www.scibugs.in...
István Mikó colsa.unh.edu/...
Big thanks to Professor MYM who stopped to film himself after getting stung so we could use the footage in this video. You can find his stock videos here: www.pond5.com/...
Corrections:
In the video, I say Mel means honey in Latin, and claim that's why the fear of bees is called "Melissophobia." While Mel does mean honey in Latin, I'm told the term "melissophobia" actually came from the Greek word "mélissa," meaning bee. It's likely that Latin and Greek have similiar words because they both come from a shared Indo-European language ancestor.
Sources:
(Book, 1910, Free) THE ANATOMY OF THE HONEY BEE | Snodgrass, R. E.
thebeeyard.org...
(Paper, 2015, Free) Structures, properties, and functions of the stings of honey bees and paper wasps: a comparative study
www.ncbi.nlm.n...
(Paper, 2011, Free) Sting microsculpture in the digger wasp Bembix rostrata (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae)
www.researchga...
Keywords: Bee Stinger, Honeybee, Electron Microscope, Venom, Structure, Function
#stinger #honeybee #anatomy

[@cortster12]

The craziest part is how this is a modified reproductive organ.

[@StatedClearly]

Spoiler alert! The next episode where I talk about how stingers evolved doesn't come out until next month, but here's an article for those who can't wait: www.statedclearly.com/articles/evidence-for-evolution-in-your-own-backyard/

[@cortster12]

@StatedClearly Looking forward to it! Your videos are always a treat, and I'm particularly excited for this one.

[@BierBart12]

Convergent evolution with cats' barbed reproductive organs

[@crysosisback7115]

@@BierBart12 Some bees other than japanese do "try" to do this, but doesn't achieve a temperature able to "cook" a hornet, nor wasps It's incredibly specific, it just reaches enough to kill it, it's not by a huge margin, and it thus takes a bit of time to work

[@b1laxson]

So they used to mate with a one use pokey pokey that rips out after breeding? Harsh one night stands.

[@thaiandi]

I am a biology teacher and backyard beekeeper. I have been imaging stingers with a light microscope to show how wonderful they are. This description has added so much more richness. What wonder our world has for us to discover. Thank you for leading us deeper.

[@ogi22]

My grandpa was a beekeper and a teacher. When i was a little kid, although my grandpa died, we still had 5 bee hives in our garden, so i was really lucky to accompany my dad and grandma when they tended the bees. It was amazing to watch them (bees) and learn. To this day i find them amazing and i'm always happy to see more information especially this quality. And finding exactly the same thing my dad tought me - bees are usually peaceful. They don't like to give their lives in vain. So if you don't bother them, they will not bother you. Oh, a small exeption... when they are about to swarm, they are not so merciful. Once i had that unpleasant meeting with them, when i wanted to show my cousin how they bring pollen to the hive... And we went back home running and screaming, each with a few of their stingers in our backs 🤭 There is however one information of a bee stinger that i was tought and i didn't see it in this movie. Those barbs react to temperature. They "open up" when they enter a warm blooded creature (especially those with a taste for that sweet honey). So that stinger is much more likely to be left under a skin of someone like human or a bear.

[@deedoubs]

>how wonderful they are You've got issues my dude.

[@mayganphynix8267]

Bees are the reason why we have the majority of food that we do. It’s amazing that tiny creatures seeming insignificant are so important to our survival. That’s the case with the whole ecosystem but bees are especially awesome.

[@ChenLiYong]

This comment sort of rhymes. ❤

[@flokibhai2.0]

And still we ignore our creator 😭 the only one almighty

[@dogyoutubedog]

Thank you for the guy who sting himself just for the video

[@StatedClearly]

He's a professor! You can find links to his work in the video description.

[@AristasTheMonsterHunter]

Let's also thanks the bee that died for this video.

[@StatedClearly]

It was stock footage I bought from the professor, so the bee died for someone else's video long before, but I did re-buy it, so I suppose I'm guilty of supporting the death of the bee.

[@grantyentis5507]

​@@AristasTheMonsterHunter that bee was also a professor, suffering from suicidal depression, so everyone got what they wanted.

[@miguelelgueta5830]

​@pyropulse It didn't grow but it swelled up like a fucking balloon

[@MrBendybruce]

This video randomly reminded me of a nature program I watched a few years ago. A Bee colony was under attack by giant wasps, and it wasn't going well for the bees, until the wasps started entering the hive. At that point the bees covered the invading wasps and then literally cooked them to death, by generating a massive amount of heat through vibration. EDIT Not Wasps, Giant Hornets

[@bevgordon7619]

I have seen a video like this, too. I also remember they used infra red filming to show the heat cooking the hornets. Commentary mentioned how it was such a fine measurement between killing the hornet but not the bees.

[@RougemontForge]

Unfortunately the European honey bee does not do this, only the Asian honeybee balls up and cooks wasps.

[@nicolehegarty4749]

I have seen videos like that too. It is scary and awesome at the same time etc. Lol.

[@hydroids]

Hornets are big wasps

[@XxDeathxX509]

I remember watching that

[@Ninja_Reborn]

Excellent presentation, it's incredible how complex the mechanism behind a simple bee sting is. Thank you for your work Jon, you have earned my support!

[@flowerstreetfarmbees]

Great stuff! As a beekeeper(stung twice today!) and a teacher, I appreciate this on several levels.

[@agustinfranco0]

hey, would you mind if i ask, what should you do if you get stung by a bee? remove it as fast as possible?, apply X remedy to wound? etc

[@flowerstreetfarmbees]

@@agustinfranco0 Yes pull out immediately, less venom pumped in body.

[@agustinfranco0]

@@flowerstreetfarmbees thank youuu

[@DoubleplusUngoodthinkful]

Doesn't your protective equipment stop stings? Also, when a bee stings your ppe, do their stingers get stuck in the fabric? I know that traditional bee keeping kills SOME bees every time you pull out racks, but how many typically die? I'm interested in beekeeping myself. Looking at going with the flo-hive or something like it. I love these insects and could spend hours watching them do their thing.

[@flowerstreetfarmbees]

@@DoubleplusUngoodthinkful I don't wear gloves. I handle frames better that way. I also don't react much to stings, so it doesn't bother me much. It actually helps with arthritis in hands and wrists

[@alexdian3831]

I was amazed at how easily I understood the concept and mechanisms of the stinger with the animated diagram and colour-coded electron-microscope photo. I wondered briefly why we don’t see more of it around, then I realised that it must take forever to make. But I guess once it is made it can teach people forever… thanks for making such an important teaching tool

[@stevess7777]

Well put! It's certainly worth putting the effort into making sure others can learn.

[@FrozenMermaid666]

Honey bees can free themselves in about 30 seconds to one minute if ppl don’t swat at them and don’t make them want to leave - if one moves or swats at them, they will fly off and the stinger will be stuck, and they will páss because of it, so if one gets stung, one should just wait and not move until the bee frees herself without losing the stinger!

[@ofcv1238]

This has to be one of the most under valued videos on YT. It is great for all ages; educational with great narration & color. Perfect tempo and time for careful study AND drifting off to sleep. Amazing

[@Danoz_die_wreckt]

This is incredible. My jaw literally dropped when I saw your diagram. Thankyou for making your incredible shows. Time will tell with your talent.

[@phoenixyoder5729]

Jaw dropped here too. Hung open too long. Consider me anazed

[@zeemgeem]

I love how much the connections between the seperate parts of the stinger resemble common solutions used in things we assemble ourselves to keep moving parts together. I have to wonder if we were inspired by, or just happened to come to the same solutions nature did?

[@davidarnold9870]

I can't agree more! I did a presentation on a topic known as bio-mimicry in school, and learned so much from it! Everything from improving wind-energy from studying whale fins to gathering more water in arid regions from the Namibian Fog Basking beetles just fascinated me! We have so much to learn from nature; she's had a few millennia head start on us 😂

[@justacathittingjuul9645]

Some of the things in engineering are actually just copied from nature. Its called Biomimicry. I watched a video about it on how they used it on making Trains a bit quieter.

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

What an amazing piece of bio-mechanical engineering. It even has a tongue n groove setup to act as a seal and a guide. FASCINATING! Edit: Yes, you should be proud. These are the best animations to clearly show how the stinger works that I have ever seen... subscribed.

[@wayne4714]

You are seriously underrated man, this should have millions of views!

[@JakeWitmer]

It probably will if he gets on Twitter and tweets things like "Have you ever wondered how complex a honey bee stinger is? Fully explained!" + link

[@bravoman1797]

I could not be prouder to have such an incredibly brilliant brother. This explanation is so cool and makes perfect sense once it’s broken down like this. Your ability to explain in easy to digest bits is a gift very few possess.

[@danielduvana]

When I learned about why only female bees have stingers I was so amazed. It’s so cool and makes so much sense from an evolution perspective. Love it!

[@jacobostapowicz8188]

Evolution doesn't make any sense without a Conscious agent doing work on the system

[@godnyx117]

Why?

[@danielduvana]

@@godnyx117 You'll have to wait for StatedClearlys next video to find out I guess haha

[@ayman8423]

All this and you still think from an evolution perspective, I feel sorry about u

[@danielduvana]

@@ayman8423 I understand that you don't believe in evolution and that you may even feel sorry for me because I do. However, I want to respectfully share my perspective on this topic. For me, evolution is a beautiful and amazing way of looking at the world. It helps me understand the diversity of life and how it has changed and adapted over time. The scientific theories and evidence behind evolution are fascinating and have expanded my knowledge of the world around me. Furthermore, the evidence for evolution is simply overwhelming. From the fossil record to genetic studies, the evidence supports the idea that organisms change and adapt over time. This isn't just a theory, but rather a scientific consensus that has been supported by a vast amount of evidence. I don't want you to feel sorry for me because I believe in evolution. Instead, I encourage you to explore the evidence and consider the amazing insights that evolution can provide.

[@abcdefvxyz4324]

This is incredible. Both the mechanism and the diagram. Very good work!

[@RainofLight]

You have no idea how educational all of this is, it is a great service to the people to have things explained to them through means other than words

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

Oh he knows

[@8kayydub8]

I got stung in the face and I was in shock at how such a little thing could cause such immediate and intense pain.

[@ubahfly5409]

Blown away by this presentation. Instant subscribe.

[@corbechupacabra]

Welp. This is my first video of yours that I've watched and you've instantly earned my subscription.

[@MrKino101]

Man, you are an inspiration, im a PhD student in Immunology, But if I were doing my PhD in Zoology or similar field, I would be gladly recommending your videos for my students

[@sciencenerd7639]

Yet another phenomenal video from Stated Clearly. Thanks, I am looking forward to more.

[@MarkJoseph-vv4pj]

My word. Watching the video from beginning to end, this is the most comprehensive and concise explanation of how a female honey bee's stinger works. The author understands the details without losing sight of the big picture. Great video.

[@mRibbons]

This answers one if those questions I've asked but never looked up. Its more gnarly than I ever would have imagined!

[@CammyWammy0313]

This is my first time finding your channel and I fell in love! The way you describe the content and take the care to create such detailed animations is top notch! I’m looking forward to future content and the pleasure of getting to view all your past videos now

[@os2171]

I’m a PhD candidate studying honey bees and bumble bees olfactory visual and multimodal integration capabilities and neuromodulation during associative learning and memory tasks. Bees are indeed the most fascinating organisms super complex. Your work only adds to such amazement! Congratulations! Keep on the great work! Cheers from a colleague in Bogotá, Colombia!

[@koslouk]

Yes "mel" is latin for honey but actually the word "melissa" is Greek for honeybee and the word "meli" was used as far back as ancient Greece meaning "honey". Hope this was informative and helpful. Great work on this video!

[@StatedClearly]

You are correct, I added that in the video description.

[@jacobtapianieto9655]

And in Spanish we call honey "Miel".

[@wolf7115]

Really high quality video. I've discovered that I apparently have that bee phobia since I felt uneasy the entire 9 and a half minutes.

[@SecularMentat]

Another, very high quality creation of Stated Clearly. Keep up the good work. This is amazing.

[@grantyentis5507]

Great video! When i was a young boy and bees were plentiful, I would study everything about them from behavior to anatomy. The stinger was always a subject of great interest. I would extract a stinger and observe it functioning under a magnifying glass and realized it had its own short life outside of the bee. One time I just barly made contact with a living stinger and noticed it crawling to full depth into my finger. This video confirmed the nature of my suspicions and taught me a few more thing i didnt know. Excellent job!

[@tasogarerubica]

Wow this is a testament to why I adore educational content on youtube.

[@edcasey3850]

I'm a beekeeper and I approve this message.

[@fuseblower8128]

Thank you for this fascinating video. It put the half an hour of burning agony and cursing into a wholly different light :)

[@ch0c0la8boy]

This was an amazing content And beautifully done by the Narrator

[@cola326]

This channel is a gem !

[@stuartabel5710]

That is one of the best things I have ever seen on the Internet - Thank you

[@fsj197811]

Wow, who knew?! That's an impressive piece of engineering that mother nature came up with. Thanks for sharing.

[@macrozone]

this is absolutly amazing, i had no idea!

[@nikolinakokasa]

Such a small piece of action yet the science involved behind this is massive! Thankyou for the animation. Loved it!💕

[@Inertia888]

It is absolutely beautiful. And I bet one day, humans will be able to use this as a model to develop a less invasive medicine delivery system.

[@nikolinakokasa]

@@Inertia888 that's a good point you made!

[@BeeBrained-PS99]

Liked, commented, and subbed... at almost exactly 5 minutes in due to the sheer quality of the information being provided. Well, freaking, done. This is how you teach people.

[@eHanlinWilliam]

This video simply amazing. On a weird note, your videos on bee actually inspired me to believe human can also make sacrifices for each other.

[@LettersAndNumbers300]

Don’t sacrifice yourself.

[@elio7610]

I'll prepare the candles and inform the other cult members.

[@Abdulla_Izrailyevich_von_Stahl]

>> human can also make sacrifices for each other.

[@JakeWitmer]

One can only imagine how inspired you'll be when you discover the Aztecs. 😂

[@TheParentalJourney]

Impeccable! As a homeschooler who just got stung after handling a piece of honey comb handed to me, and then trying to explain what just happened to my two boys, aged 5 and 7, this was a first class presentation. I will be exploring other videos in the hope of finding continued class in a world where its not easy finding quality for homeschooling. The diagrams, animations, use of language, introduction to new terms and photoshop touches were great, brother. Well done and thank you, kindly. Subscribed!

[@dakshbadal7522]

Haven't subscribed to a channel this quickly. This is such high quality content! I would love more videos about the mechanisms of animal functioning.

[@Rockollecter]

I stepped on a bee yesterday. I’m 34, this is my third sting ever. It HURT! Progressively! Thanks for this explanation! Saved me a trip down the rabbit hole! ❤

[@dee6561]

Interesting! Surprised this video doesn't have a million views with all these high quality animations, to be honest.

[@Robert_Byland]

Beautifully animated and brilliantly explained!

[@pontiuspilatus7900]

Thank you! Exceptionally well explained and illustrated.

[@freesk8]

Wow, great diagrams and explanation! Thanks!

[@rodrigoappendino]

1:18 When that happened to me, I felt the pain inly at the moment of the sting. It didn't feel like the venom kept being injected.

[@reezo4290]

After being stung by one a couple weeks ago, I have so much more respect for these little creatures. So glad I stumbled upon this video.

[@dadikkedude]

I did a jungle trek in Laos and we had to pass under a bee nest hanging from a fallen tree. Being close to it didn't effect the bees at all. But for three of our group of eight people who got scared as soon as they had to cross underneath one bee attacked. It's like they feel you're scared. Everyone that was relaxed didn't get stung.

[@ModestMang]

This video makes me think that certain inventions are unavoidable…like nature made a amazing blue print for a pump system inside a bee stinger….. wow!

[@jcol3000]

Such a fantastic video, man! The animation is 👌

[@derekdilger2117]

this is the only channel i actually have notifications enabled for.

[@jean-francoiskrebs1589]

Wow ! I am really impressed at the work put in this video, and the incredible mechanism it describes.

[@thamirivonjaahri6378]

I always loved bees and they are one of few insect (or insect-like) species along with European ladybugs and small spiders which I allow even to crawl on my hand. Just don't make sudden moves, don't swat them, don't poke their hive with anything and you should be totally fine for them unless there is a history. Funny that even with their short lifespan, subsequent generations seem to remember past transgressions somehow.

[@freesoftwaretalk]

Congratulations and thank you. I was impressed on how this is both very clear to a nine year old, and state of the art science. (not to mention also aesthetically pleasing)

[@exposure3569]

The sound and the voice in the video are amazing. The video too. But the voice is the first reason i want to subscribe

[@snosah7571]

Holy crap. Horrifyingly beautiful.

[@timothyodering6299]

In my youth my father described to us children the action of a honey bee sting and the sting tearing out of the body of the bee causing its death. In my mind I imagined this with such clarity and compassion for the bee that I fainted, my mind went foggy and sickly and I lost consciousness. Waking up on the floor several minutes later. This happened again many times over the years, whenever I could not face something medical. Ultimately I undertook a nursing degree, in part to face this recurring issue, and solved it for myself. But I've never actually seen the honey bee process till now. Its even more impressive that my imagination 😮. Thank you. Oh yes. Nursing chewed me up and spat me out so this is seriously NOT about how 'wonderful' nursing is. But thats another story.

[@StatedClearly]

Nursing is a noble profession! Thank you!

[@rkvkydqf]

It's fascinating to see evolution do such wonderful bits of engineering. Sure, it may have poor grip on overall architecture and some implementation details, but it sure does sometimes create some wonderful solutions to the fitness function.

[@pooterist]

Brilliant stuff. I started beekeeping this year, having caught my first swarm. Despite wearing a complete bee safety suit - and almost completely zipping everything up, I received 20 stings in one session. Apparently, I was doing it at the wrong time (just before darkness) too, so I chalk this up to be a learning experience. I've had a half dozen additional lessons since then - I must be a slow learner. Still, these creatures are truly fascinating. Seeing this video, explaining how the sting mechanism works only adds to that fascination. Thanks, I

[@PAULSWorld131]

The creator of everything is quite a technician. He builds the greatest weapons, all fully organicly

[@blackshard641]

It is difficult to watch a video like this and not fool ourselves into seeing design.

[@agustinfranco0]

@@blackshard641 any proof of a designer yet? besides your feelings and a magic book i mean

[@agustinfranco0]

yet the bees die after, not really perfect is it? throw that ridiculous book away and study something useful

[@blackshard641]

@@agustinfranco0 ... I'm guessing reading comprehension isn't your greatest strength

[@mikerich32]

It's too bad that this hypothetical technician doesn't do a good job; like he's lazy, takes short cuts, doesn't design things in a well thought out manner and instead seems to rely on trial and error and thinks "eh, that's good enough." Worst of all, there isn't any concrete evidence that he even exists.

[@thebadboy7681]

Impressive

[@dominiklukacs7677]

Good job on the diagram!

[@guillerminarodriguez9549]

Thank you for the amazing diagram and explanation. I practice Apitherapy (treating with bees) and I sting myself with 15 - 20 bees every other day. I have healed myself of arthritis, sinusitis and other minus health problems. Thank you again for this video.

[@danielmichalski2436]

I applaud the quality of your video! Excellent!

[@NithinJune]

Your diagram is Praiseworthy!!

[@180XT]

Wow. So fascinating. Thank you for making such interesting content. In just this video, you've earned my subscription

[@JMKats89]

Wow you are such a good teacher. Ive always wondered how this works. You sir just gained another follower. Well done

[@tilongatao]

Now this is truly exceptional content. Thank you so much!

[@Financeification]

You do great work 👍

[@ilirlluka6789]

R. E. Snodgrass must be the most badass etymologist name ever. That'a guy born to be too cool for his own good at his profession. We salute you sir.

[@Gen-XTex]

Thanks for that detailed illustration and explanation! 👍👍

[@heinkorbee1459]

I'm studying biology and videos like these keep sparking my interest

[@Posimistic]

Video so good I subbed to your Patreon

[@ropro9817]

Amazing video! 👏 I just learned something really cool with my morning coffee! 🤠

[@j.d.d.80]

you SHOULD be proud of that diagram. Well done.

[@NativeTexMexican]

Great... Now I'll know exactly what's happening the next time I get stung by a bee. Thanks! 😐

[@bertrandsohier6542]

Excellent video, what a piece of work. In addition I would have loved to hear about the chemistry and molecular composition of Venom. Next time may be

[@MikeB12800]

The runners are insane!! Evolution and nature is absolutely mind blowing!

[@dionysis_]

Melissa (Μέλισσα) is bee in Greek 🙂

[@benstokes3377]

This video is so well made, it held onto my attention from the very first second

[@simonl7784]

I watched this yesterday, and found it incredible.. I just now realized who made the video... Cheers buddy! 😄

[@jacobostapowicz8188]

What a remarkable intelligent design. When i saw the diagram I recognized the complexity of the mechanism to be from an AGENCY

[@Angelmou]

Nope, it is a variation of the female egglaying/reproduction and males lack it. And since when does an agent want venomous stings and death and torture? Oh I forgot the intelligent designer also supposendly designed complex tapeworms, malaria parasites and leprosy bacteria to eat people from outside in or inside out, right?

[@nesterenhanm5155]

I saw the video on a newspaper's website, it's really interesting. Thanks. 👍👍

[@masonyoung1502]

As an engineer, seeing the impeccable machining in that bee stinger is beautiful

[@goldpharaoh6976]

Getting stung by a bee hurts like hell

[@4124V4TA-SNPCA-x]

Wow this is very clear and presented with perfect visuals. Awesome. I knew all this but never seen it presented this way. Of course it is only natural from this channel.

[@wuulfgaarth7186]

If you are allergic to the bee's venom, it's not the venom that kills you, but the reaction that your body has to it. In an effort to defend the body from the bee's venom, the body starts to swell. If you are allergic this swelling will be much more generalized across the body. You will die when you're neck muscles swell and choke you. So you will die from mechanical asphyxiation and not from the venom itself This is not one of the venom's effects but rather a reaction from body so you will not die directly from the poison of one bee, but you can die from the toxicity of the bee's venem if you are stung multiple times.

[@corleonis888]

Absolutely amazing, sends shivers down my spine (such a geek...) - thank you!

[@jimtoomey9522]

Brilliant ! Thank you for the best animation and description I’ve seen ! Thank you for your efforts. Subscribed.

[@ryananggoro493]

Not only their life cycle is complex their body also complicated than I tho And respect for the creator of this animation for make it easy to understand how it works 👍

[@PPYTAO]

Awesome and super interesting video, some really beautiful footage, photos and the animations you created were amazing!

[@mikejowan3340]

Incredibly fascinating. You have earned yourself a sub

[@whitacrv]

Great video. I'm still just amazed how people think that an accident could develop something so intricate as that. Believing this is an accident takes much more faith than believing there is an intelligent creator.

[@thunder_2124]

This video does not help with my fear of bees at all 😱

[@FilterYT]

Wow, that was amazing! Thank you John.

[@jeppeflner5280]

SPLENDID WORK! Love this!!!

[@vdub7090]

Really impressive and very informative. Liked and subbed! I love finding channels like this, but this one seems special.

[@TheGiulioSeverini]

What an amazing and really well done video. Kudos to you, creator!