Question

Sting of honey bee consists of
(A) Acid gland
(B) Alkaline gland
(C) Labial gland
(D) Hypophyrangial gland

• A. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• B. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• C. (C) and (D) only.
• D. (A) and (B) only.

Hint:

Melittin makes up about 50% of dry bee venom weight. The "sting" is a modified ovipositor, which is why only female bees (workers and queens) can sting; drones (males) cannot.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The stinging apparatus of a honey bee worker is a highly specialized weapon derived from the ancestral ovipositor.
It is used for defense of the colony and produces a complex cocktail of chemicals known as apitoxin.
Detailed Explanation:
The venom production system in the honey bee consists of two main glandular components:
1. Acid Gland (Poison Gland): This is a long, branched tubular gland that secretes the majority of the venom.
The secretion is acidic (pH 4.5 to 5.5) and contains major proteins and peptides like Melittin and Phospholipase A2.
Melittin is the primary toxin responsible for the pain and inflammation associated with a bee sting.
2. Alkaline Gland (Dufour's Gland): This is a shorter, thicker gland that produces an alkaline secretion.
Previously, it was thought that the mixture of acid and alkaline secretions caused the toxicity, but it is now understood that the alkaline gland primarily provides lubricants for the sting mechanism and may produce pheromones like isopentyl acetate (alarm pheromone).
3. Labial Glands (C): These are salivary glands located in the head and thorax, involved in digestion and moistening food, not in stinging.
4. Hypopharyngeal Glands (D): These are located in the head of worker bees and produce Royal Jelly used to feed the queen and larvae.
Therefore, only the acid and alkaline glands are part of the stinging apparatus.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The sting consists of (A) and (B).