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Buzz (the blog)

Do Bees Sting other Bees?

4/30/2013

25 Comments

 
Elijah, who is 5 1/2 sent me a message by using the ask a beekeeper part of this website. I think I have an interesting answer.
 "Do bees sting each other on the back or something? I was wondering. I know what bees make -- they make honey!"
First a few facts:
  • When a honeybee stings a mammal they lose their stinger because it gets stuck in the mammal's thick skin
  • If a honey bee loses its stinger they will die so they only sting if they really need to
  • Honeybees can sting other insects multiple times
  • When workers are 21 days old they have the strongest stingers so they become guard bees

There are a few bees, called guard bees that stay near the entrance to protect their hive from intruders. They inspect every bee that enters. They can smell the bee and tell if they are from this hive or another. If a bee from another hive comes to the door with pollen or nectar the guards won't stop them. It's like they are bringing gifts. If a honey bee from another hive comes with nothing the guards won't let them enter.  Here a a photo of a  the entrance on a busy sunny day. As the hive population grows, I may make the entrance larger, but that will mean they will need more guard bees. 
Picture
 If a wasp, bumble bee, or yellow jacket tries to enter the guard bees will not let them in either. They will release a pheromone or a smell to warn the others. It works a lot like a fire alarm warning people there may be a fire. Other bees will come out and attack. These insects may have been trying to rob the hive, by stealing their honey, the bees will attack. One day I found a dead Bumble bee in front of my hive. I wonder if he was trying to steal some honey.
Picture
25 Comments
Katie Mitchell link
5/14/2013 12:36:52 am

Thanks Amanda for that clear answer! The pictures were great too! Elijah says thanks for the "good answer."

Reply
dtujrsdx link
12/13/2017 06:58:37 am

dtrzhgf

Reply
Kate Scott
3/27/2015 07:15:45 am

So do the bees thing the other bee people's

Reply
ANONYMOUSS
2/2/2017 10:11:19 am

SAME

Reply
Zahra
2/6/2020 01:03:24 pm

ya

Borschniak
4/18/2015 04:53:40 am

Dear Amandina, Sometimes more the bees are doing buzzing for ok now. Is this fruitile or excellent for the reprodouchin of the sustaining colonies? The buzzing more louder closer now you get them to.

Reply
Alexander Milton-Rodriguez
5/7/2015 09:39:20 pm

I have always heard that guard bees against a wasp😥 is not a happy ending!!!!

Reply
gracie
5/10/2016 11:39:29 am

what

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Eric
6/14/2015 11:37:56 am

I recently witnessed a large bee carrying two smaller bees on its back, but it seemed as if the two bees were repetively stinging the larger bee and killing it. Is this a normal occurrence in the bee world? Caught my eye on my pool deck and was curious to find out.

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daniel husted
6/17/2015 09:45:02 pm

I saw the same thing, but with only 1 small Bee attacking a large Bee. I caught it on camera. You can see it on youtube.
http://youtu.be/De9_oIOSnDw
or look for Bee attacking Bee

Reply
Cadence
2/22/2016 04:26:04 pm

Youtube huh? What do you think was going on?

Courtney
6/17/2017 03:19:55 pm

Pretty sure they're just mating...

Jeremy
7/23/2018 12:51:53 pm

Lmmfao

Reply
andrew
4/24/2020 11:41:33 am

likely that was a wasp or hornet or a carpenter bee getting assaulted by other bees

Reply
Michelle link
11/2/2015 02:08:18 pm

Thanks for answering my question about do bees sting other bees.

Reply
Randy washburn
1/30/2016 11:07:47 am

Iv'e got question it warmed up nearly 50 degrees today and I got these honey bees in my garage and they was flying around the entrance but they was stinging one another to death does anybody know why this was happening and I think they was all the same colony

Reply
Cadence
2/22/2016 04:25:02 pm

Huh. Well, I'm doing a report for school on bees, and that was probably the best answer I could get. Thanks! =)

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ur mom
4/29/2016 09:51:16 am

soooo do bees sting other bees or...

Reply
madison
5/10/2016 11:41:24 am

hello your mom they do sting other bees

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vincent link
3/28/2017 11:22:55 am

I LOAF bees xD ur so great with bees and keeping them in their bee form. XOXO -bee qeen

Reply
Someone..? link
12/18/2019 12:05:12 pm

Wow. I knew they attacked other insects but I didnt know they attack the same kind of bees or that they attacked other breeds. Thanks for asking that question Elijah!!!

Reply
Someone..? link
12/18/2019 12:07:57 pm

I have 2 questions about bees : Do bees work alone to make honey? How many ranks of bees are there?

Reply
Super Bee Fan (Anonymous Person) link
12/18/2019 12:11:39 pm

Bees work together to make honey for the hive, and as for your other question, I do not know.

Reply
Super Bee Fan (Anonymous Person) link
12/18/2019 12:09:49 pm

Thanks for the info! This will work so well on my report!

Reply
TBSBI link
12/18/2019 12:16:39 pm

WOW thanks



My name is :code: Key:1 -->

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Amanda

    Staring at the dancing bees in an observation hive, it hits me. I love how these tiny creatures communicate. It looks like they're having fun dancing around while telling their sisters where to find some nectar.

    I created this site to share what I know about these amazing creatures such a tiny creature has such a complex way to carrying out its purpose. And it all looks so simple. It reminds me that God takes care of the smallest details as his creation dances.

    So here goes. Join me on an adventure with bees. I hope we can make learning as fun as the dancing bees informing their sisters of sweet nectar.

    Amanda's Sting Count
    2013- 6 stings
    2019- 0
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