Wasp and Bee stings?

[jabster8]

Assuming it hasnt died from stinging someone does anyone know how long the sting in a wasp/bee's tail lasts after its death?

Also, does anyone actually know what the purpose is of Wasps, do they have any good purpose in life?

[Thunderbird+]

How true it is, I dont know but I remember from when I was a kid, being told that a wasp can sting for 1/2 an hour after its dead. Poupose ? Yes, I think everything has a purpose in this world, certain plants have evolved to be pollenated exclusively by wasps, the water figwort is one.

[peppyjo]

as far as i know a wasp sting lasts as long as the wasps body does, so you can still be STUNG by a dead wasp, although i haven't tried to find that one out.

[Miketiger42]

Ive noticed that when most wasps dies, thier stinger comes out of their body,(well it does after i swatted them anyway!) so i wouldnt want to chance it, much like peppyjo,to see if it will still sting you!

[BigB]

A lot of wasps are actually parasitic and the "Sting" on those is an ovipositor that they push into the unfortunate animal they parasitize and lay an egg inside it. Wasps are pretty grusome creatures really but a parasitic wasp has actually saved certain parts of Africa from starvation back in the early 90's so they can be some use.