Our first reaction when a honey bee buzzes around us is to swat it. Have you ever wondered whether bees feel pain or not? While they inflict pain on us with their stings, do we also inflict pain on them by killing them? Beekeepers also crush bees in between the frames during inspections, however careful they try to be. The activities in the hive can cause temporary or permanent damage to the bees or may kill them. Drones bees usually die immediately after mating with the queen. Once they sting, the worker bees stinger is ripped off from their body and dies immediately.  Unfortunately, unlike humans, you cannot ask the bees whether they feel pain. 

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Do bees feel pain?

Bees feel pain, but not like humans or mammals. They also do not respond to pain like other animals or humans. However, they perceive pain and react to it. We feel pain as throbbing, aching, or pinching sensations in our bodies. The bees feel something similar called nociception when they are exposed to stimuli (extreme cold or heat). Nonireception refers to the activation of nonireceptors in the brain, which are responsible for processing painful stimuli. 

Compared to other insects, bees have a relatively large brain, containing millions of neurons to help them learn, adapt to an environment, and make complex decisions. Although further research is needed to comprehend the nature of pain sensations in bees, available studies show that they experience harmful stimuli and try to move away from them. This helps protect them from environmental risks. For instance, they can move away from a hot surface, detect bruising,  pressure, etc. Their response to stimuli is vital for self-preservation. According to research, bees can endure pain or discomfort to make trade-off decisions. Humans can feel physical or emotional pain even with no stimulus. 

If bees do not feel as we do, should l swat them?

Just because hurting or crushing the bees is not painful, you should not be heavy-handed on them. A beekeeper should also conduct hive inspections slowly, gently, and in a controlled manner. Once they die, they release alarm pheromones which are part of their defensive response mechanism. The alarm pheromones agitate the hive, making the bees aggressive and more likely to sting you. This makes hive inspection more difficult to perform. Carrying out inspections carefully is not because we can hurt them but because they can hurt us. More prone to their stings. Dead bees in a hive are also a potential source of diseases in the hive. The mix of viruses and bacteria they contain is smeared all over the hive when crushed. 

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Do bees feel pain when they sting?

Honey bees have a barbed stinger. Once they sting you, they cannot pull out their stinger back. They are forced to leave it with the victim. This process also takes a substantial portion of their internal organs. Although this kills the honey bee, there is no evidence of whether it is painful to bees or not. 

What Is the Study Associated With Bees Feeling Pain?

A notable study conducted by scientists at Newcastle University explored whether bees experience pain. In the study, bees were exposed to a mild electric shock and observed for their reactions. The researchers found that bees displayed behaviors consistent with experiencing pain, such as rubbing the affected area and grooming behaviors. Furthermore, when the bees were given a sugary solution containing painkillers, they showed reduced signs of discomfort. This suggests that bees may indeed have the ability to feel pain, similar to other animals. However, further research is needed to fully understand the extent of pain perception in bees and its implications for their welfare.