BIEB 166 Lecture Notes - Fixed Action Pattern, Isoamyl Acetate, Learning
8 Nov 2013
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Leaving part of the body in the animal. Sting poison gland continues to pump toxins into the animal while the bee buzzes around the animal. Sting also releases alarm pheromone, which attracts other bees to sting. She dies because part of her internal body organs are pulled out with the stinger. Venom gland and the stinger are the parts of the body organs. She dies because the stinging apparatus developed as an integral part of her internal organs. The longer time to sting removal, larger area of sting weal. She dies because she can produce a much stronger deterrent effect. Leaving the sting with poison gland still pumping away while, with her last effort, she buzzes around, distracting the animal from the stinger. In evolutionary history, honey bee colonies with such self-sacrificing workers were able to defend themselves more effectively against predators and the genes for this altruism spread.
