Are bees aware about the consequences of using their stinger on a large target? Consequently, are they aware that stinging smaller animals won’t cause them to die?

Question

Do they instinctively “know” they will die by stinging a human?

In: Biology

Answer 1

I want to start by stating I am by no means an expert on this topic. But the other day I had what I can only say is a similar experience. Bees think by instinct, as did I. Bees don’t want to kill themselves just because something came up. I didn’t want to have to poop in a plastic Walmart bag in the back of a van because there were no port-a-potties. When it comes to fight or flight there’s only so much time and not many answers. You do what you gotta do and that’s just life.