Does a bumble bee's stinger stay out all of the time or is it retractable?

Question

Does a bumble bee's stinger stay out all of the time or is it retractable?

Answer 1

The stinger is not retractable.  

Also, it is interesting to note that a bee's stinger is actually modified from the ovipositor, which is a tube in the rear of many insects that deposit eggs in soil or in trees.  This is why all worker bees are female and sterile, and why queen bees can't sting you, they are still using their ovipositor!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovipositor