Forty percent lifespan decrease observed in flies prevented from mating.
In a study that’s bound to be taken out of context by non-fruit fly readers, a University of Michigan study suggests that preventing the insects from mating caused them stress, frustration, and early death. How stress levels were determined was unclear, but I assume that the morning commute to the banana bowl was edgier than usual.
BBC science reporter Melissa Hogenboom notes that “the flies that were tantalised but denied any action showed more stress, a decrease in their fat-stores and had their lives cut short dramatically.”
So what’s all of this mean to you? Nothing much unless you’re a fruit fly, but the notion is fresh fruit for thought. You can read Hogenboom’s article here.
photo John Tann / Flickr