STING (from AS. stingan, Goth. us-stiggan, to push out ; connected with 011G. stunga, Ger. Stange, obsolete Eng. stung, sting). An organ possessed by various kinds of animals, by means of which they not only inflict a mechanical wound in their prey. but also insert into it an irritant or poisonous chemical. Stinging or nettling cells (see NEMATOCYST) occur in all the Cielenterata except ctenophores, in some tubularian worms. and on the cerata of the nndibranch Eolis. The sting of scorpions (q.v.) is in the tail. The poison. secreted by a gland, exudes through small openings into the wound, and is powerful enough to cause death in the small natural prey. Among insects, several forms are provided with a sting. This organ, which is of especial use as a means of defense to the so-called aculeate Hymenoptera, a group which Inv; odes the bees, wasps, and many ants. and to the ;Ilutillidte or 'cow-ants' or' velvet ants,' is simply a modified ovipositor connected with a poison gland. The sting of a bee consists
of three distinct pieces: two barbed needles and one gouge-like piece, the `director;' the needles move up and down on the director, controlled by muscles attached to their bases. In the anterior part of the director there is a slight projection on the needle which catches a bit of the poison in the chamber and carries it to the wound. The director itself is composed of a united pair of stylets, and without the director is a third pair of stylets which are thick and hairy. (See INSECTS, section on Poisonous Insects.) The poi son is secreted by poison glands which pour their poison into the chamber. The poison of the bee is said to be secreted by two glands, one pro ducing an acid and the other an alkaline fluid. Only acid poison glands are said by some in vestigators to be present in those wasps which only stupefy the prey that they store up for the nourishment of their young.