Hamburg, Germany - Honey bees are more effective than insecticides in keeping harmful pests such as caterpillars away from your prize flowers, according to a team of German scientists.

Like winged watchdogs, honey bees chase away intruders who threaten to devour their beloved pollination buds. Not only do they chase away humans, but also other bugs.

Caterpillars are particularly sensitive to bees since the buzzing of the insects' wings irritates the sensitive hairs on their bodies.

Unable to tell apart a harmless bee and a predatory wasp, the leaf-munching larvae are frightened away, according to researcher Dr Jurgen Tautz, from the University of Wurzburg in Germany.

Hamburg  - WLAN USB sticks that sport the newest N transmission standard can retrieve data from the internet up to four times faster than those working with the prior G standard.

They can also broadcast across longer distances and require up to 50 per cent less energy, reports Hamburg-based Computer Bild.

While devices working with the G standard could reach an effective transfer rate of maximally 23 megabits per second, WLAN sticks with the new N standard achieve up to

Hamburg - Hoffenheim striker Vedad Ibisevic has undergone a successful operation on his injured right knee, the German league leaders said Saturday.

The Bundesliga's top scorer with 18 goals tore his cruciate ligament in a friendly game against SV Hamburg during a training camp in Spain on Wednesday.

The Bosnia striker had surgery at St Elisabeth hospital in Heidelberg and will be out for the rest of the season.

Swiss forward Eren Derdiyok has meanwhile turned down an approach. from Hoffenheim who are now in the market for a replacement striker.

Hamburg  - Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok on Friday reportedly turned down an offer from surprise Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim who are looking for a replacement for injured top striker Vedad Ibisevic.

Derdiyok told German sports magazine Kicker that he was committed to a move to league rivals Bayer Leverkusen from his current Swiss club Basle.

"I am honoured by their interest, but I have already given my word to Bayer Leverkusen to join them and I will not change that," he was quoted as saying on the Kicker website.

Hamburg - Toyota unveiled its 2009 Formula One car on Thursday - not in a typical race track rollout in front of the world media but via the internet in these hard economic times.

"Our target this year is to fight to win the first race for Toyota in Formula One," team boss Tadashi Yamashina said.

The team is upbeat that it will be competitive despite several rule changes imposed by the ruling body FIA. Some are visible on the car through a wider front wing and a slimmer and higher rear wing.

Hamburg  - Sometimes people's behaviour at the gym can put an abrupt end to their fellow gym-goer's comfort and relaxation.

For some, an example might be a woman in her 30s shaving her legs in the shower. For others it could be the older man sitting in the sauna without a towel under his bottom.

During winter, many people flock to pools, saunas, gyms and fitness studios and wellness services are gaining popularity. But not everyone knows how to behave in these facilities. Morals and manners are one thing; other rules are critical for hygiene.