Why do bees sting even though they would die after?
In: Biology
[Tier Zoo – How Ants and Bees broke the game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HPKKFugajE)
The typical story of species and evolved behavior is that behavior that is conducive to individuals reproducing is encouraged, while behavior that leads to death and/or not having children is discouraged, through mortal selection.
But hive insects break this concept because their genetic legacy is actually *better* preserved through the queen thriving than themselves surviving. Which means that drones can afford to adopt individually disadvantageous, or even suicidal behaviors, and so long as those behaviors benefit the hive, their genes are favored rather than selected against.
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