In Japan, it has been found that high caffeine concentrations contribute to the death of flies. A research group from Okayama University discovered that flies fed with high doses of caffeine were dying within seven days. This finding could lead to the development of more effective insecticides for humans, according to the Japanese agency Kyodo.
Previous studies have shown that stimulants at high concentrations can slow down the growth of pests. However, it is unclear whether caffeine would also be effective, the research group clarified.
Researchers examined hoverflies, which inhabit tropical and temperate areas, including Japan, consuming sugar water with five different caffeine concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 2%. Flies that consumed caffeine at concentrations above 0.5% began to die on the fourth day and practically all perished within seven days.
