Why does the Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee possess thicker chitin and longer stingers than its host?
Answer
To engage in direct confrontation with the resident queen and workers.
As a brood parasite, the Vestal Cuckoo must infiltrate and commandeer an established nest of a host species. Since it cannot build its own cells, it must enter a colony where it will likely face resistance from the resident queen and the worker bees. To survive these inevitable and aggressive encounters, the species has evolved stronger physical defenses, specifically thicker chitin for armor and longer, more powerful stingers, which allow the intruder to prevail in combat and secure the nest.
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