Many of us have experienced a painful bee sting. But bees dies after they sting because the stinger has barbs that keep it in the victim’s skin, which is not the case with wasps. When a bee has stung, it therefore loses its stinger, the venom sac and part of its digestive system, which is what kills it. If the sting is really superficial, the bee might be able to unhook its stinger and fly away unharmed, but this is quite rare.
Thanks to HalfOni for this article.