Why can a yellowjacket sting repeatedly without dying?
Answer
The stinger lacks barbs
The yellowjacket's ability to deliver multiple defensive stings is directly attributable to the morphology of its stinger apparatus. Unlike the stinger found on many honey bees, the yellowjacket's stinger is smooth and lacks barbs. This morphological feature is vital because it allows the insect to withdraw its stinger intact after penetration, retaining the entire apparatus and venom sac. A honey bee, conversely, usually leaves its barbed stinger embedded in the victim along with the venom sac, leading to the bee's subsequent death as the stinging organ is ripped away during the escape attempt.
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