London, Oct 18 (IANS): Flies quickly learn to opt for less sweet food sources that offer more calories and nutritional value, a study has found.
The finding is the first time that "intelligent eating" has been spotted in the insect world, the Daily Mail reported Wednesday.
The study, conducted by the researchers at the University of British Columbia, is the first to measure the shift in food preference over time, and the first to find that flies opt for nutritious food more quickly when they're hungry.
The team hope the discovery could lead to new insights into why mammals and insects sense the calorific value of food.
"From a behavioural standpoint, it seems that mammals and flies can show similar responses to calorie sensing," said Michael Gordon, an assistant professor with the zoology department.