People are stunned about unknown bee fact that prompts them to 'ejaculate themselves to death'

Bees evolved from ancient predatory wasps that lived some 120 million years ago, so you'd think we'd know everything there is to know about them.

Of course, bees are crucial to any ecosystem, especially when it comes to pollen and honey.

With all the research done over the years we know an awful lot about how bees live and their general health.

However, there is one particular fact about bees that has left people on social media, quite frankly, stunned.

The unknown bee fact has stunned people. (Getty Stock Photo)

A lot of things happen with its extremely hot right? We have constant weather warnings from the professionals and we are advised to drink plenty of water.

Another thing that happens during a particular extreme heatwave is that bees 'ejaculate themselves to death'.

Yep, I know. But before some of you start wondering if there's a better way to go, here's the science behind it.

Back in 2022, researchers discovered that honey bees are subjected to the unfortunate fate when temperatures reach a whopping 42C (107 Fahrenheit).

When male workers, also known as drones, are inflicted by such high temperatures their bodies begin to convulse.

This then forces them to ejaculate their abdomen-sized penis-equivalent out of their body, and they then die from the shock.

Experts say bees try to maintain a body temperature of 35C (95 Fahrenheit), but if things get any hotter serious problems can arise.

Dr Alison McAffee, an expert on bee health, said: "When drones die from shock, they spontaneously ejaculate. They have this elaborate endophallus that comes out and is about the size of their own abdomen. It’s pretty extreme."

Researchers made the surprising discovery in 2022. (Getty Stock)

McAfee was first alerted to the bizarre bee fact after noticing an increasing level of bee deaths following a heat wave in British Columbia during 2021.

'We know that after six hours at 42°C, half of drones will die of heat stress," the expert added.

"The more sensitive ones start to perish at two, or three hours. That’s a temperature they shouldn’t normally experience, but we were seeing drones getting stressed to the point of death."

The topic of bees ejaculating themselves to death has become a hot topic of conversation Reddit.

"When temperatures exceed 42 degrees, bees ejaculate themselves to death because it becomes too hot for them," one user put.

"All jokes aside, temperatures around the world get hotter every year. Doesn't that mean that bees will go extinct, leading to a major crisis since they're so important for the ecosystem?" a second asked.

While a third penned: "If you combine this fact with the temps in India today, it’s devastating."