Scientists have filmed the operation of an autonomous pump in the sting of a honeybee for the first time

Leaving its sting in human skin, the honeybee dies due to internal organ damage, yet the defensive weapon itself continues to function for over a minute. The sting acts as a fully autonomous micropump. Unlike most venomous animals, where venom is stored in a sac and squeezed out by circular muscles, bees use a special chamber with valves for this purpose.

To investigate the structure of this mechanism, scientists detached the stings and recorded their operation on video using a transparent gel simulating human skin. It turned out that inside the cylindrical chamber there are two valves moving in opposite directions. On the downward stroke, the valve opens like a parachute and pushes the venom out through the outlet, while on the return trip it folds like an umbrella, allowing the chamber to fill again. Operating like folding pistons, the valves ensure a continuous flow of venom.

To confirm their conclusions, the specialists used three-dimensional scans of the sting, based on which they created an enlarged copy made of rigid and flexible materials using a 3D printer. The researchers note that such an unusual pump design, resembling two deformable pistons in a single cylinder, could find applications in microfluidics, drug delivery systems, and continuous-flow pumps.