The sting of a Honey Bee. Note, I use the word "sting" with some trepidation and fear that I am rising above my station, shunning my roots, or something like that. Because, of course, any untainted American will tell you that bees have "stingers" not "stings." We have Stinger Missiles not Sting Missiles, if you had any doubt. But, just like the difference between eating Venison and "Deer Meat" , these differences call attention to the murky line between people who have been cultured up by too much education and those who aren't under the influence of the precepts of the upper classes. I wonder if British kids call them stings or stingers? (And really, why do Americans use the term "Deer Meat" (real Americans I mean)? No other animal flesh as the term "meat" applied after it.) Now that I have finished exposing one of my multi-decadal chronic irritations (I am firmly of the "Deer Meat" clan) we can move on and point out that this stinger (whoops) is barbed and that is why it stays in our skin. However, most other bees do not have barbed stingers but smooth ones. However, I believe that Laurence Packer (a stingologist and originally from Britain) once told me that other species also have barbed stings. Perhaps @packerlab will report out. This bee came from Phil Frank who brought a series of honey bees in to take pictures of for his upcoming book. More to deep thoughts to come.
