"There are a few solid theories for honeybee evolution - the first being that the stinger for the worker bees evolved thicker and barbed because it would be a better weapon against other insects, so they could repel an attack by other insects en force. Another is that since mammals with thick, heavy fur tend to be the ones to raid and heavily damage hives, they needed to evolve a heavier, barbed stinger to get through and hook into the coat and be harder to remove. Of course there is the idea that since the worker bees do not further any genetic improvement to future generations, the loss of a few workers due to this purported design flaw is less of a hit to the health of the overall hive than arming the workers with weaker, less effective stingers." Jemma explains as she stands, brushing grass off of her trousers.