STING STRUCTURE. 
81 
Fig. 36. 
Poison and Oil 
Globules. 
this oil, which has a strong smell, is used to lubricate 
the sting, and it thus allows the mechanism to work 
freely. 
Carlet, however, states that the venomous appa- 
ratus is always formed by two distinct systems of 
glands, one having a secretion strongly 
acid, and the other feebly alkaline. 
The combined liquid of the two systems 
is always acid, and as he found that 
the inoculation of the product of either 
of the glands does not result in death, 
it is clear, he says, that the union of 
the acid and alkaline secretions is 
necessary for the venom to have any fatal effects. 
The sting of the queen is in structure similar, but 
is curved, and is of greater length, and has from three 
to five very small barbs. Dewitz (30), Vogel (166), 
and others, have pointed out that it is not only 
analogous to an ovipositor, but is actually used for 
this purpose by the queen bee (see also Grimshaw, 
B. B.J. 1888, p. 514). 
The sting of a queen is used against a rival, and 
most writers are agreed that she does not usually sting 
a human being, although we have ourselves on one 
occasion had experience that she is able to do so, and 
that she was also able to extract the sting much more 
easily than a worker. This was done by working- 
round and giving the sting a spiral motion, similar 
to drawing a corkscrew out of a cork. If time is 
allowed a worker can withdraw her sting in the same 
way, although generally she loses besides the sting the 
G 
