Bees Buzzing On Caffeinated Plants

Bees are attracted to and even “drugged” by caffeine, a recent study has claimed.

15:33 18 October 2015

A recent research published in the journal Current Biology has found that bees are attracted and even “drugged” by caffeine.

 

Researchers set up two artificial flowers for the bees to feed from – one containing sugary nectar without caffeine and another with a concentration of the compound similar to that found in many plants. The study found that bees returned to the caffeinated nectar more quickly and that the compound made the insects dance. They made a series of movements to communicate the location of a nectar source to other bees.

 

Prof Ratnieks explained: "they're communicating - hey I've found some good food".

 

"The vast majority of bees don't waggle dance - they only do it to communicate a particularly good location."

 

Dr Margaret Couvillon, who led the study, added: "The bees that had been foraging on the caffeine kept revisiting the feeder [for many days] once it was empty.”

 

"So the effects of this one three hour experience (of caffeine) lasted for many days."

 

"We're showing a way that the plant gets the upper hand on the bee, through an action that's akin to drugging."