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Structures, properties, and functions of the stings of honey bees and paper wasps: a comparative study

Authors :
Zi-Long Zhao
Hong-Ping Zhao
Guo-Jun Ma
Cheng-Wei Wu
Kai Yang
Xi-Qiao Feng
Source :
Biology Open, Vol 4, Iss 7, Pp 921-928 (2015)
Publication Year :
2015
Publisher :
The Company of Biologists, 2015.

Abstract

Through natural selection, many animal organs with similar functions have evolved different macroscopic morphologies and microscopic structures. Here, we comparatively investigate the structures, properties and functions of honey bee stings and paper wasp stings. Their elegant structures were systematically observed. To examine their behaviors of penetrating into different materials, we performed penetration–extraction tests and slow motion analyses of their insertion process. In comparison, the barbed stings of honey bees are relatively difficult to be withdrawn from fibrous tissues (e.g. skin), while the removal of paper wasp stings is easier due to their different structures and insertion skills. The similarities and differences of the two kinds of stings are summarized on the basis of the experiments and observations.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20466390
Volume :
4
Issue :
7
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biology Open
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.7e53e56d494a48afbffbe69f8e8f7e39
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.012195