Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Honeybee stingers keep pumping venom after detaching, footage shows
A honeybee’s detached stinger can keep pumping venom after it separates from the insect’s body.
Researchers from Macquarie University filmed the process using high-speed video.
The stinger is about two millimetres long.
The team placed detached stingers against a clear gel that mimics human skin.
The footage captured a previously unknown process that allows the stinger to pump venom.
The findings show that venom delivery can continue even after the stinger is no longer attached to the bee.
High-speed footage shows that a honeybee’s detached stinger can continue pumping venom.
Researchers from Macquarie University detached stingers and filmed them pumping venom into a clear gel.
The gel was used to mimic human skin.
The stinger is two millimetres long.
The footage captures a process described as previously unknown.
- Who
- Researchers from Macquarie University filmed the stingers.
- What
- Footage shows a detached honeybee stinger continuing to pump venom.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- The researchers used clear gel to mimic human skin as a target.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Stinger length
- Two millimetres
- Researchers
- Macquarie University
- Test material
- Clear gel mimicking human skin
- Method
- Researchers detached the stingers and filmed them pumping venom
Sources
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