Last Updated:
The study has been conducted by the researchers of Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Wasps naturally take ethanol as a part of their diet.
Scientists have discovered an unusual exception. In a recent study, it is revealed, a unique species of wasp which, unlike any other known creature, is entirely unaffected by alcohol. While humans experience effects like intoxication and hangovers, this wasp remains completely unaffected, even when alcohol is present in its food. This trait makes it the only species known to be immune to alcohol’s intoxicating effects.
The Oriental hornet is the only known animal that cannot get drunk even after consuming ethanol, the ingredient that is present in alcohol which causes intoxication. Wasps naturally take in ethanol as part of their diet, which includes nectar from flowers and fruit. In a study conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel, the Oriental hornet was used to test the effects of ethanol on its behaviour and lifespan. The researchers fed the wasps a sucrose solution containing 80 percent ethanol. Surprisingly, the wasps showed no negative effects, neither in their lifespan nor in their behaviour despite the high concentration of alcohol.
To understand how alcohol affects wasps, researchers used carbon isotopes to track changes in the wasps’ bodies. Zoologist Sophia Bouchebati explained that, as alcohol is metabolised, it breaks down into carbon dioxide, which is then released. By measuring this carbon dioxide, they could estimate how quickly the wasps broke down alcohol.
The study, published in PNAS, revealed that the wasps’ metabolism processes alcohol twice as fast as humans. This speed prevents any typical effects of alcohol, such as impaired movement or nausea, allowing the wasps to remain unaffected.
Researchers think the oriental hornet has multiple copies of the alcohol dehydrogenase NADP+ gene, which produces an enzyme that breaks down alcohol efficiently. Insects, like wasps, also have a relationship with yeast, including brewer’s yeast, which is carried in their digestive system before they move to new food sources. This yeast produces alcohol, possibly encouraging the hornets to develop a high tolerance for it.
Researcher Bouchebati added, “The results were surprising; we were amazed at how fast the hornets metabolised the alcohol,” Unlike these wasps, other animals, such as the painted tree shrew can only handle low levels of alcohol, and stronger concentrations can lead to negative effects. Studies like this provide insights into animal biology, and they can also be useful for human research.
With alcohol-related deaths making up 5.3% of worldwide deaths, zoologist Aaron Levin stated, “We believe that oriental hornets could be used to develop new models for studying alcohol addiction and alcohol metabolism in humans.”
