Bee deathmatch!!!!

[grebo247365]

I was doing my rounds earlier today and I came across a curious sight, on the ground in front of me was a large bumble bee wrestling on the floor with a honey bee.
The bumble was frantically trying to sting the HB to no avail as the HB had already pierced the abdomen of the bumble with its barb, this went on for several minutes until the HB broke free and flew away leaving its sting behind still pumping venom into the now prostate bumble.
Have I now solved the mystery of the disappearing honey bees?, - bee interspecies warfare.

 

[locum76]

the bumble bee could have been robbing honey from a honey bee hive..

 

[grebo247365]

the bumble bee could have been robbing honey from a honey bee hive..

I was wondering why they would exhibit behaviour that would result in mutually assured destruction, protecting the colony from invaders would fit the bill, I didn't see any other honey bees involved though.