Scientists Reveal How Honeybee Stingers Inject Venom [Watch]

After stinging, the bee detaches from its stinger, but the venom pumping and the stinger's penetration deeper into the skin continue. The post Scientists Reveal How Honeybee Stingers Inject Venom [Watch] appeared first on Safir Arjan .

After stinging, the bee separates from its stinger, but the venom pumping and stinging continues deep into the skin.

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A bee sting is not only painful because of the venom; The mechanism of venom injection also plays a role in the persistence of pain. When a bee stings, it usually leaves its sting in the victim's skin and is injured in the process. The insect dies after the stinger is removed from its body, but the stinger continues to pump venom.

In a new study, researchers from Macquarie University in Australia have investigated the mechanism of this process with high-speed cameras. They placed the severed bite in a clear gel designed to mimic human skin. The following video shows the operation of this complex mechanism:

The researchers describe the bee sting mechanism as a kind of "dual piston micropump". In this structure, two sharp and toothed parts called lancet drive the sting deep into the skin with alternating movements. These simultaneous movements help to transfer the venom.

Each of these segments is connected to a flexible valve in the thicker housing of the bite. These valves expand and contract alternately. As a result, the part attached to it is pushed forward or pulled back. The valves also change shape when they pass each other and maintain the pressure necessary for the venom to move.

This mechanism continuously directs the venom to the skin. The researchers say that the special shape of the valves and their alternating and opposite operation allow continuous pumping in a small space.

According to the current findings, this type of pumping independent of the bee body is a unique feature of worker bees. Other insects from the order of Hymenoptera use wave-like contractions around the venom duct. This process is more similar to the movement of food in the human digestive system.

The mechanism of bee stings is also different from some man-made tools, such as syringes. A conventional syringe has a relatively stiff piston and must be prevented from reversing fluid to refill. In contrast, the double-piston design of the bee sting can deliver venom continuously without the need for direct control of the insect's body.

Researchers believe this structure may inspire new tools for medical or research applications. However, such applications are still a possibility and require further investigation.

The researchers have published the results of this research in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.