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( Stinger)
A stinger (a colloquialism for the term "sting") is a common term for a sharp organ or body part found in various animals (typically arthropods) or plants that usually delivers some kind of venom (usually piercing the skin of another animal). A poisonous sting differs from other piercing organs in that it pierces by its own action, as opposed to teeth, which pierce by the force of jaws, or thorns, which pierce by the action of the victim. "Sting" also refers to the wound caused by a sting. It is also used as a verb "to sting" is to inflict such a wound. The main type of construction of stings is a sharp organ of offense or defense, especially when connected with a venom gland, and adapted to inflict a wound by piercing; as the caudal sting of a scorpion. The sting is typically located at the rear of the animal, near the tail (if any). Animals with stings include bees, wasps, hornets, and scorpions - although the scorpion's sting is not homologous to that of the other three, but is rather an example of convergent evolution.
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