Bees sting to defend the hive from intruders (especially other bees) or to defend themselves if they are annoyed or attacked. At the moment of the sting, in addition to the venom, a particular substance (isopentyl acetate) is released that alarms the other bees and calls them back to the target that has just been stung. Bee venom (apitoxin) contains 78 different substances, the largest of which (40-50%) is melittin, a powerful anti-inflammatory. These are substances that act on the nervous system with neurotoxic and haemorrhagic effects. The lethal dose of bee venom is said to be 19 stings per kilo for large animals and adult humans.