This question is framed in an anthropocentric way that equates the thing that stings you with an individual bee. In reality, it is not only much more useful bu

This question is framed in an anthropocentric way that equates the thing that stings you with an individual bee. In reality, it is not only much more useful but much more correct to think of the entire hive - or perhaps only the queen - as the individual bee. That flying thing that stings you might not be a "bee" at all and the fact that it "dies" might be about as interesting to the hive/queen as clipping a fingernail is to you.