[nordsieck]

> I have posited that bees have evolved to die after stinging because the act of stinging can cause pathogens from the creature being stung to adhere to the stinging bee.

OK.

But why do bees die after stinging, but wasps don't.

[Retric]

Bees can sting other insects just fine. Also these Bees can’t reproduce, so that seems like an obvious difference.

From the hives perspective it’s a question of effectiveness vs the utility of individual bees remaining lifespan. Being even slightly more effective at discouraging mammals from raiding a hive for honey is presumably worth the loss of individual bees.

Wasps on the other hand lack the wealth of a bee hive so presumably different tradeoffs are worthwhile.

[slowhand09]

I don't know this fo ra fact. Actually I'd never even heard this before. I'd surmise the act of pulling a stinger out of another insect may be less than the amount required to pull the stinger form the bee's body, thus preserving the bee.

[imtringued]

I have been looking for this comment!

Bees need to defend themselves against other insects. The stinger doesn't detach when the threat isn't great enough to warrant suicide.

[Raydovsky]

Because wasps don't live in large colonies. Thus losing one wasp would be more damaging than the risk of infection.

Also wasp nests aren't as hot and humid as bee hives

[AlecSchueler]

Not every path has to converge.

[manfre]

Bees have a barbed stinger that they can't pull out. Wasps don't have a barbed stinger.

[musingsole]

Do mammals hunt wasps for their honey?

[sorokod]

Not honey but proteins.