Bees Love Caffeine, Too
Even the busiest bees need a little pick-me-up in the morning. A study by researchers at the University of Sussex finds that bees love a little caffeine, and prefer nectar that gives them a little extra buzz.
The paper, published in the journal Current Biology tested bees’ preferences for caffeinated nectar and an equal-quality but non-caffeinated alternative. As many as 55 percent of plants have low concentrations of caffeine in their nectar, and previous research has found that caffeinated nectar can increase bees’ memory of a flower’s scent.
When presented with a pair of sugary nectars in the lab, one with caffeine and one without, bees foraged for food more when they ate the caffeinated nectar, and directed their fellow bees to that food source more often. They directed other bees to the caffeinated nectar four times more than when they had eaten non-caffeinated nectar, and would return to the source of caffeine even after that feeder had run dry. After eating caffeinated nectar, they were less likely to seek out other sources of food. In short, they got sort of addicted.
Plants “may be tricking the honey bee by securing loyal and faithful foraging and recruitment behaviors, perhaps without providing the best quality forage,” University of Sussex researcher Margaret Couvillon explains. The bees get tricked into thinking the caffeinated nectar is a higher quality food source than it really is, and aren’t too interested in diversifying their nectar sources.
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celebrate the bees
today on world bee day
and every day
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“if we die, we’re taking you with us.”
-The Bees
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credits: mental floss, shaunacy ferro, entomology today
Hurray to World Bee Day! Send them over to my Strawberry plants! 🙂
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they’d love to visit
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Love bees, we have the enjoyment of strawberries and caffeine (coffee) in common. 😀
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Ooh, yes-
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That quote really says it all. Hug a bee, it’s World Bee Day!
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Yes!!
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Here is my Mosquitoes and Bees poem, and an interesting video/song for you Beth …
Mosquitoes and Bees
I was asked the question, “who’s your muse”
My mind flew into overdrive, now I’ll have to chose
Years ago, the answer would have been, my Queen
The lady who was always in my dreams
Living longer than her, altered my life’s mission
Spending time alone, enlightened my vision
Mindful thoughts were constantly buzzing
I’d learnt enough to know, this world’s not humming
Nature’s lifeblood, mosquitoes, bees
And the air we breathe, sheltered by life giving trees
Are the persecuted convicts of corporate greed
Leaving us, the planet’s custodians, begging on our knees
The bees pollinating wings, have been broken
And purifying forests, have been stolen
It’s time, to dismount the angel’s white ponies
And ask my muse Melpomene, please save earth’s colonies
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Yes, please. Thank you,ivor
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Thanks for sharing the buzz, Beth❣️
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My pleasure
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All I ever see here lately are wasps.. 😩..haven’t seen a pudgy little bumble bee in ages.
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Hope you see some soon 🐝
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No comment today.
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Okay –
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Thank you for figuring out the buzz, Beth.
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🐝
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Thanks for these interesting facts. 🐝🐝🐝
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My pleasure
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💖
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I think Dunkin Donuts has pulled the same trick on me – “by somehow securing loyal and faithful foraging and recruitment behaviors”. now I’m not too interested in diversifying my coffee sources.
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They have you all abuzz
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indeed 🙂
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It’s true. If they die, they’re taking us with them, along with most other mammals.
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This is true
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They go…we go as well. Bees are essential to life. It’s important to know that everyone can become addicted. Sigh. Even bees. Life is weird.
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It is
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oh wow, another priceless nugget of wisdom I didn’t know about. Ta Beth!
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So much out there
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Caffeinated bees. Who knew?
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Right?
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Pingback: Buzzed – Site Title
As a lover of both caffeine AND Bees, this is fascinating! You always share such terrific information!
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It’s the perfect combo! Thanks
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Nature: the great deceiver
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So right
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I guess caffeine helps them keep a “buzz-on.” 🙂
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Exactly))
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I was sitting out on my deck the other day, and a bee kept flying around my cup. I thought it was after the sugar, but maybe it wanted a real jolt.
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I think that’s it!
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I’ll see if I can dig up a bee poem for this special day, Beth 🙂
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that would be great!
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first time to know that fact thanks Madame
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my pleasure
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Bees are so important, and, honey, well, is divine…
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yes, a whole other level
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agreed. 🙂
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Scientists are so silly sometimes. “Hey, let’s see what happens when you give caffeine to bee!” Ha,haha
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)))
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Good work
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I respect the bees!!!! But who knew about the caffeine??? Though I get it!
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I can identify
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Interesting post. I like the quote about taking us with them if they die. 😀
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they know of what they speak
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They do.
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I wonder if the caffeine gets into the honey as well!
Bees love caffeine boost
Flowers give them morning lift
Getting their buzz on
Dwight
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Love your bee-ku
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:>)
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I Am Minding my BEES….💖 🐝 💖 Einstein said a long time ago. If we don’t look after our bees and they die humans will live another 4 years. I am so worried. I forgot what he said and regret it. Thank you for your article. Very much appreciated. 💖
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thank you for reading and commenting, they are so important to our lives
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I love this post! I’m all for taking care of the honey bee and now that I know they prefer caffiene, I like them that much more. Thanks for sharing this info with all of us!
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me too, i can identify with them just that much more –
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Can’t blame them.
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yes, I get it, too )
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Omg love this! Love that i got to read this todayyy
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ty
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