Bees are intriguing insects with distinctive features and behaviors. A common misconception is that all species of bees die after stinging, but in reality, only about 8 out of nearly 21,000 bee species worldwide meet this fate when they sting. Additionally, a bee’s stinger is actually an adapted ovipositor, a tube for laying eggs, that has been modified for defense purposes.
In addition to stinging, bees have various other defense mechanisms at their disposal. Stingless bees, for instance, can defend their nests by biting when offended. Male bees, known as drones, lack stingers and rely on worker bees to assist with feeding.
One of the most remarkable traits of bees is their communication method. Honeybees use a dance called the “waggle dance” to communicate with their nestmates about the best source of food. This dance is an elaborate form of communication that allows bees to share crucial information with each other.
