Bees are intriguing creatures with distinctive characteristics and behaviors. One widespread myth is that all species of bees perish after stinging, but in fact, only eight out of almost 21,000 bee species globally die when they sting. Moreover, a bee’s stinger is actually an adapted ovipositor, a tube used for laying eggs that has been modified for defense purposes.
When it comes to safeguarding their hive and nests, bees employ a range of defense mechanisms beyond stinging. For instance, stingless bees can defend themselves by biting when provoked. Male bees, known as drones, do not have stingers and rely on worker bees to assist them with feeding.
One of the most remarkable traits of bees is their communication style. Honeybees use a dance called the ‘waggle dance’ to convey information about the best food source to their nestmates. This dance is a complex form of communication that allows bees to share vital information with one another.