Bees Decrease Food Intake, Live Longer, When Given Compound Found in Red Wine

ScienceDaily (Sep. 24, 2012) — The idea that drinking red wine may provide health benefits -- or possibly even extend your life -- is an appealing thought for many people. Now, there may be added attraction. Researchers have found that when given resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, bees consume less food.

Previous scientific studies on resveratrol show that it lengthens the lifespan of diverse organisms ranging from unicellular yeast to fruit flies and mice. Since bees are social animals like humans, a team of scientists from Arizona State University, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and Harvard Medical School, decided to test the effects of the chemical on the honey bee.

In a series of experiments published in the journal Aging, the scientists tested the effects of resveratrol on the lifespan, learning ability, and food perception in honey bees.

Continued: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120924142135.htm