# "Sex-deprived male fruit flies seek solace in alcohol, bump into walls and pass out" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 15, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888 "2012-03-15T19:14:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/1 "2012-03-15T19:14:05Z")
This was the top story on the Toronto Star website just now: [Sex-deprived male fruit flies seek solace in alcohol, bump into walls and pass out](http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1146750--sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out?bn=1) Apparently they can turn off and on the desire to drink by manipulating the levels of a neuropeptide in the fly’s brain. The neuropeptide is increased by having sex, and decreased with no sex. Decreasing leads to drinking. They talk about being able to modulate the desire for drinking, but somehow this seems to miss the point, which is really: _not having sex is unhealthy!_ At least for fruit flies. Fortunately, as more highly-evolved beings, humans are not harmed by the lack of sex. Aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/2 "2012-03-15T19:29:53Z")
Those findings are far from groundbreaking. I saw them replicated many times in undergrad. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/3 "2012-03-15T19:32:10Z")
I’m a fruit fly stuck in this damn human body! ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/4 "2012-03-15T19:40:34Z")
That reminds me - there was a cool story on Quirks and Quarks a few weeks back about fruit flies self-medicating with alcohol. Apparently fruit flies with a wasp larvae parasite, (from having the mama wasp lay an egg in their body :eek:) would seek out alcohol-laden food, such as spoiling fruit. The fruit flies are resistant to alcohol poisoning because it’s a usual part of their diet, but the wasp larvae dies with its guts bursting out, saving the life of the fruit fly! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/5 "2012-03-15T21:43:08Z")
Alcohol, the cause of and solution to, all of life’s problems. Raise your glass, gents ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/6 "2012-03-15T23:28:09Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Those findings are far from groundbreaking. I saw them replicated many times in undergrad. With fruit flies? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/7 "2012-03-15T23:55:47Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > With fruit flies? No, bar flies. They’re a larger species, but neurologically similar. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/8 "2012-03-16T00:55:40Z")
The question is, what kind of alcohol do fruit flies prefer? I’ll bet they enjoy mimosas and appletinis. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/9 "2012-03-16T02:01:00Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > The question is, what kind of alcohol do fruit flies prefer? I’ll bet they enjoy mimosas and appletinis. That sounds like what the female ones drink, what about the males of the species? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/10 "2012-03-16T02:18:40Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > Alcohol, the cause of and solution to, all of life’s problems. Maggie, you’re going to watch Daddy get happier and happier… then sadder and sadder. We were attempting to control fruit flies with a little bit of whiskey, often with some kind of fruit juice mixed in. It didn’t work too well, maybe now I know why. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/11 "2012-03-16T03:56:28Z")
Pretty much just like the rest of us. Though unlike the rest of us, they apparently don’t get drunk in the process of trying to seduce the hotties. [Story here in the NY Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/health/male-fruit-flies-spurned-by-females-turn-to-alcohol.html). I really have to admire scientists who come up with research ideas like this. Great stories for after work, maybe even gets them laid once in a while, and who knows, maybe they will learn something useful! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/12 "2012-03-16T04:04:03Z")
Damn, I see there’s already a thread on this, though I like my title better. I’m gonna ask a mod to close it as redundant. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/13 "2012-03-16T04:06:22Z")
Merging two topics about the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/14 "2012-03-16T05:43:02Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > That reminds me - there was a cool story on Quirks and Quarks a few weeks back about fruit flies self-medicating with alcohol. > > Apparently fruit flies with a wasp larvae parasite, (from having the mama wasp lay an egg in their body :eek:) would seek out alcohol-laden food, such as spoiling fruit. The fruit flies are resistant to alcohol poisoning because it’s a usual part of their diet, but the wasp larvae dies with its guts bursting out, saving the life of the fruit fly! 😃 That’s an interesting story. Here’s a [link](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46416513/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/parasitic-wasp-no-match-drunken-fruit-fly/#.T2LRzdCMxxA). That’s exactly what I’ve been doing, trying to rid myself of intestinal parasites! ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/15 "2012-03-16T08:38:27Z")
Well, in their defense, we’ve been getting Drosophila melanogaster stoned on ethanol for decades just to satisfy our curiosity. We’ve probably selected for stoner fruit flies in a significant way - next step, fruit fly intervention and re-hab. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/16 "2012-03-16T08:53:31Z")
This research argues strongly for the inclusion of paid sex benefits (with perhaps a nominal co-pay) included in health care benefits. I see conservative Republican heads exploding. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/17 "2012-03-16T11:31:57Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > The question is, what kind of alcohol do fruit flies prefer? I’ll bet they enjoy mimosas and appletinis. I don’t know, but Time Flies like an arrow. ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/18 "2012-03-16T12:37:01Z")
Cheers! Perhaps this will normalize afternoon beers for single people! ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/19 "2012-03-16T16:28:01Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > That reminds me - there was a cool story on Quirks and Quarks a few weeks back about fruit flies self-medicating with alcohol. > > Apparently fruit flies with a wasp larvae parasite, (from having the mama wasp lay an egg in their body :eek:) would seek out alcohol-laden food, such as spoiling fruit. The fruit flies are resistant to alcohol poisoning because it’s a usual part of their diet, but the wasp larvae dies with its guts bursting out, saving the life of the fruit fly! 😃 Proving once again that Mother Nature is one devious bitch 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888/20 "2012-03-16T16:51:01Z")
> [@ugly ripe tomato](#): > > Proving once again that Mother Nature is one devious bitch 😃 Ever since I read about that spider or wasp or something that pokes into the head and brain of a caterpillar and drives it around, I’ve known this. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-deprived-male-fruit-flies-seek-solace-in-alcohol-bump-into-walls-and-pass-out/615888.md?page=2)