Why are yellowjackets able to sting repeatedly, unlike honeybees?
Answer
Their smooth stinger does not detach upon use.
The ability of a yellowjacket to sting multiple times in defense is directly related to the structure of its stinger. Unlike honeybees, which possess barbed stingers that lodge in the skin and detach along with the venom sac upon use (resulting in the bee's death), the yellowjacket's stinger is smooth. Because the stinger remains fully attached to the wasp after deployment, the yellowjacket can withdraw it intact and reuse it against a perceived threat. This capability, combined with their tendency to release an alarm pheromone to rally colony members, makes approaching an active nest exceptionally hazardous.
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"5 Things You Didn't Know About Yellow Jackets!" - YouTube
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