Honeybees can get hooked on cocaine

By Thomas H. Maugh II

"Cocaine repels most insects -- which is why the coca plant makes the chemical in the first place. But in a surprising new finding, U.S. and Australian researchers reported Friday that honeybees are susceptible to the drug's insidious lure."

"They become addicted, and even suffer withdrawal symptoms when they no longer have access..."

"Robinson had previously shown that a chemical called octopamine in the brains of bees influences their altruistic waggle dancing. The new findings suggest that cocaine interacts with this chemical system, accentuating its effects..."

Full article available at http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-honeybees27-2008dec27,0,27733...