Tolerance and efficient metabolization of extremely high ethanol concentrations by a social wasp.

ABSTRACT: Ethanol, a natural by-product of sugar fermentation, can be found in various fruits and nectar. Although many animals routinely consume ethanol in low concentrations as part of their natural diets, its inherent toxicity can cause severe damage. Even species particularly well adapted to ethanol consumption face detrimental effects when exposed to concentrations above 4%. Here, we investigated the metabolism of ethanol and its impact on survival and behavior in the Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis), a social wasp that naturally consumes ethanol. We show that chronic ethanol consumption, even at concentrations as high as 80%, had no impact on hornet mortality, construction behavior, or agonistic behavior. Using ¹³C1 labeled ethanol, we show that hornets efficiently metaboli

SUBMITTER: Bouchebti S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11536130 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature