Why do bees sting?

Bees sting people and animals to protect their queen bee and their hive. Only female bees have stingers.

For most people, a bee sting hurts only for a few minutes. It turns red and swells. The area around the sting is red and itchy for a few days. Some people, however, get very sick from a bee sting. This picture shows a bee stinging a person. OUCH!

What happens when you get stung?

When a bee stings you, it pushes its stinger into your skin. Its pumper pumps venom into you. The bee flies away, but its stinger, pumper, and venom sac stay in your skin. The pumper continues to pump venom. After stinging, the bee dies.

Parts of the stinger