As bees and hummingbirds move from one flower to another, feeding on nectar while helping plants reproduce, they are also consuming something unexpected: small amounts of alcohol. In the first large survey of alcohol in floral nectar, biologists at the University of California, Berkeley detected ethanol in at least one sample from 26 of the 29 plant species they examined. Most nectar samples contained only trace amounts, likely produced by yeast fermenting sugars. However, one sample reached 0.056% ethanol by weight, which is about 1/10 proof. How Much Alcohol Do Pollinators Consume Although these levels sound tiny, nectar is a primary energy source for many species. Hummingbirds, for example, drink between 50% and 150% of their body weight in nectar each day. Based on these feeding habits, the researchers estimate that an Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna), commonly found along the Pacific coast, consumes roughly 0.2 grams of ethanol per kilogram of body weight daily.…