Page 11 Advertisements Column 1

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18809, 3 December 1932, Page 11

Drunken Insects.—Beekeepers are shocked —for their bees insist on getting drunk (says a London newspaper). The bees appear lo be in helpless attitudes on the ground, falling oft' their dowers, refusing to atfbrk, and lapsing into drunken stupors. When consulted, a bee expert said: “Drunk? Oh, yes, the bees are really drunk. Their condition is due to the nectar of the lime tree. It has some strange toxic ingredient which has not been fully investigated. Only one or two other plants have the same effect. The bee has lo visit many lime (lowers to drink an Intoxicating quantity of nee-tar, hut eventually lie is overcome and falls lo liie ground, if is exceedingly dangerous for a hoe lo get drunk. If left alone lie will come round in a few hours, hut often, when he gets so drunk as lo he helpless, a bird eats him. Wasps are dangerous when under the inlhienee of an inloxicanl. nver-ripe Victoria plums, eaten as liter lie mi llte ground, make wasps drunk. When moderately drunk they go mad. and get busy with their stings. When thoroughly intoxicated they go to sleep.