Importance of the sting in the evolution of sociality in the Hymenoptera

We argue that the sting has minimal importance as a preadaptation facilitating the evolution of eusociality in the Hymenoptera. Rather, the origins of eusociality occurred in the context of small colonies occupying small nests. Subsequent increased colony size was accompanied by attraction of vertebrate predators and by the evolution of colony defense strategies, some of which involved the use of the sting. Furthermore, the sting is not an important factor contributing to the lack of male workers in Hymenoptera.