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| Caffeinated plants give bees a buzz | Caffeinated plants give bees a buzz |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A morning caffeine dose is something that so many of us find irresistible, and according to research, foraging bees seek a similar buzz. | A morning caffeine dose is something that so many of us find irresistible, and according to research, foraging bees seek a similar buzz. |
| Many plants produce caffeine, primarily as a naturally bitter deterrent against plant-devouring insects, like caterpillars. | |
| But an experiment with caffeinated nectar has now shown bees are attracted to and even "drugged" by the compound. | |
| The research is published in the journal Current Biology. | The research is published in the journal Current Biology. |
| Prof Francis Ratnieks from the University of Sussex, a senior member of the research team explained that previous research had shown that caffeine boosted bees' memories of the location of a flower. | Prof Francis Ratnieks from the University of Sussex, a senior member of the research team explained that previous research had shown that caffeine boosted bees' memories of the location of a flower. |
| "So people [already] thought it would affect their perception of nectar," he told BBC News. | "So people [already] thought it would affect their perception of nectar," he told BBC News. |
| To find out if this was the case, the research team set up two artificial flowers for 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. | To find out if this was the case, the research team set up two artificial flowers for 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. |
| So they could record each individual bee's behaviour, the team glued tiny identification numbers to the insects' backs. | So they could record each individual bee's behaviour, the team glued tiny identification numbers to the insects' backs. |
| 'Akin to drugging' | 'Akin to drugging' |
| The bees would return to the caffeinated nectar more quickly - making slightly more foraging trips, but the most striking finding was that caffeine "made the bees dance" much more. | The bees would return to the caffeinated nectar more quickly - making slightly more foraging trips, but the most striking finding was that caffeine "made the bees dance" much more. |
| After a visit to the caffeinated nectar, honeybees were much more likely to perform their waggle dance - a series of movements that communicate the location of a nectar source to their nest-mates. | After a visit to the caffeinated nectar, honeybees were much more likely to perform their waggle dance - a series of movements that communicate the location of a nectar source to their nest-mates. |
| By dancing, explained Prof Ratnieks, "they're communicating - hey I've found some good food". | By dancing, explained Prof Ratnieks, "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." | "The vast majority of bees don't waggle dance - they only do it to communicate a particularly good location." |
| So the caffeine had an effect on the insects that was "akin to drugging" - causing behave as though the nectar source was of higher quality, and richer in sugar. | So the caffeine had an effect on the insects that was "akin to drugging" - causing behave as though the nectar source was of higher quality, and richer in sugar. |
| "And it's presumably cheaper for the plant to produce a small amount of caffeine than a large amount more sugar." | "And it's presumably cheaper for the plant to produce a small amount of caffeine than a large amount more sugar." |
| Dr Margaret Couvillon, who led the study, said the "post-exposure" effects on the bees were also very surprising. | Dr Margaret Couvillon, who led the study, said the "post-exposure" effects on the bees were also very surprising. |
| "The bees that had been foraging on the caffeine kept revisiting the feeder [for many days] once it was empty," she told BBC News. | "The bees that had been foraging on the caffeine kept revisiting the feeder [for many days] once it was empty," she told BBC News. |
| "So the effects of this one three hour experience (of caffeine) lasted for many days." | "So the effects of this one three hour experience (of caffeine) lasted for many days." |
| Dr Couvillon explained that, while the classic image of pollination was a "warm, mutualistic relationship," where the pollinator receives a reward from the plant, this showed a conflict. | Dr Couvillon explained that, while the classic image of pollination was a "warm, mutualistic relationship," where the pollinator receives a reward from the plant, this showed a conflict. |
| She said: "We're showing a way that the plant gets the upper hand on the bee, through an action that's akin to drugging." | She said: "We're showing a way that the plant gets the upper hand on the bee, through an action that's akin to drugging." |
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