An interesting feature of the reproductive systems of male and worker honeybees is their relative ease of detachment. Male honey bees mate with a queen while flying through the air. Shortly after mating, a male will backflip off the queen. His reproductive system will detach in the process. The male falls to the ground and dies (happy). His reproductive system, still attached to the queen, will continue to deliver sperm.
The stinger of worker honeybees (sterile females) is a modified ovipositor. The stinger has barbs that work like fish hooks to allow the stinger to penetrate skin and hook the skin so it can’t be easily removed. When the worker bees flies away, she leaves her stinger anchored in the skin and her reproductive system along with the venom gland will detach. The muscles of the venom gland continue to pump venom into the animal.
This amazing photo (below) captures a worker bee shortly after stinging someone. The stinger is hooked under the skin and the bee is flying away. The reproductive system is being stretched and pulled from the worker but not yet detached.
Reproductive sytem of a honeybee in the process of detaching after stinging
Photo: Kathy Keatly Garvey
Living With Insects Blog 
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