Caffeine shot in nectar: for bee memory, not buzz

[bananas]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/caffeine-shot-nectar-bee-memory-not-buzz

CAFFEINE SHOT IN NECTAR: FOR BEE MEMORY, NOT BUZZ
By MALCOLM RITTER - Mar. 7 2:20 PM EST


This undated image made available by Geraldine Wright shows a honeybee visiting a coffee flower. A new study says honeybees get a shot of caffeine from certain flowers, and it perks up their memory. That spurs them to return to the same type of plant, boosting its prospects for pollination and the future of the plant species. The coffee plant's nectar offers about as much caffeine concentration as a cup of instant coffee, according to researchers. The work, by Geraldine Wright of Newcastle University in England and co-authors, was reported Thursday, March 7, 2013 in the journal Science. (AP Photo/Geraldine Wright)

NEW YORK (AP) — Talk about a caffeine buzz: A new study says honeybees get a shot of caffeine from certain flowers, and it perks up their memory.

That spurs them to return to the same type of plant, boosting its prospects for pollination and the future of the plant species.

Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that one of the flowers is the coffee plant. Its nectar offers about as much caffeine concentration as a cup of instant coffee, according to researchers.

But some citrus plants serve caffeine too, albeit in lower concentrations. It's found in the nectar of orange and grapefruit blossoms.

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[MADem]

1. Gotta love DU--learn something here every single day! nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. I love me some honey in my morning coffee! Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz