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Sam6latetoday at 2:17 AM6 repliesview on HN

BTW, Caffeine is also a naturally occurring insecticide, yet humans tend to repurpose and hack things.


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barbacoatoday at 3:27 AM

Some argue that THC in cannabis actually works similarly because when herbivores regularly ingest it, they become lethargic and lazy, causing them struggle to survive in the world. Kinda like my roommate.

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jyounkertoday at 1:25 PM

It's even weirder than that. It turns out that at very low concentrations caffeine seems to have similar effects on insect neurology as it does on ours. There are some plant species whose flowers produce caffeinated nectar. Bees seem to like these flowers preferentially, and have an easier time remembering where they are. (Yes, bees get buzzed.)

jacobolustoday at 10:08 AM

There are some flowers which produce tiny amounts of caffeine in their nectar, apparently to give the pollinators a buzz.

bamboozledtoday at 1:21 PM

Love me some Capsaicin, even though I’m not supposed too (I guess)

raverbashingtoday at 3:27 PM

Capsaicin as well

And birds are immune to it

boxedtoday at 6:46 AM

All spices basically too afaik.

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