A BBC Breakfast presenter took a swipe at Naga Munchetty as they discussed what insect they would be on the morning show.
Jon Kay compared his co-presenter to a hornet who is always there with a “stinging” jibe.
The pair were discussing a scientific report which found fruit flies eat more and sleep less when they are lonely - just like many humans.
“If you were to compare yourself to an an insect, which would it be?” Munchetty asked Kay.
He replied: “I’d like to be a stick insect. Slimline, motionless”. This caused Munchetty to hit back with “we’ve all got ambitions haven’t we?”
He then asked: “What are you? You’re like a hornet, buzzing around, stinging.” Kay’s co-presenter replied only with a smirk.
Scientists found that when fruit flies are kept in isolation their feeding habits and sleep patterns change, which is reflected in their brain activity.
The findings, published in the journal Nature and reported in the Times could help researchers understand the connections between loneliness, insomnia and overeating in humans.
Professor Michael W Young, head of the laboratory of genetics at Rockefeller University in New York, said: "Studies suggest that a large number of adults in the United States experienced significant weight gains and loss of sleep throughout the past year of isolation precautions due to Covid-19.
"It may well be that our little flies are mimicking the behaviours of humans living under pandemic conditions for shared biological reasons."
