Bee sting. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the end of the needle-like sting of a honeybee, tipped with blood. The sting is a modificati

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Bee sting. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the end of the needle-like sting of a honeybee, tipped with blood. The sting is a modification of the female ovipositor, or egg- laying apparatus. It is no longer used to lay eggs, but instead serves as a weapon of defence. The sting consists of moveable chitinous elements, into which the ducts of two glands open. When a bee stings, the contents of the alkaline gland are mixed with the contents of the acid gland producing poison. The tip is armed with backward- sloping barbs, which makes it difficult to remove intact. The action of stinging kills the bee. Magnification unknown.

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Size: 5100px × 3466px
Photo credit: © THIERRY BERROD, MONA LISA PRODUCTION/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, bee, bees, coloured, horizontal, hymenoptera, hymenopteran, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, nature, ovipositor, sem, sting, wildlife, zoology