Stinger

Stinger, a piercing organ connected with glands that secrete venom; serves as an instrument for piercing skin coverings and for introducing poison. In the proper sense of the word, the stinger is found in scorpions and in Hymenoptera insects. The scorpion's stinger is located at the posterior end of the venomous ampulla, which terminates the abdomen of this arachnid. At the very apex of the arcuate curved stinger lie two lateral openings, which open outward two venomous glands lying inside the terminal ampulla. The stinger of Hymenoptera is a modified ovipositor. In the honeybee it consists of a main part - the case of the stilettos with an inflated anterior part and a thin posterior guiding groove. Along its longitudinal rails move two piercing organs - the stilettos, each bearing a lateral piston moving in the inflation of the case. Connected with these are two venomous glands (acid and alkaline), the secretion of which is mixed by the pistons in the inflation of the case and flows through the grooves of the stilettos into the wound. The stingers of scorpions and Hymenoptera consist of solid chitin. In common parlance, the stinger is also called the tongue of a snake, which has no relation to its venomous bite, which is inflicted by venomous teeth.