honeydew

Honeydew standing crop and production over 24 hours in Nothofagus solandri forest in Canterbury

The standing crop and daily production of honeydew by Ultracoelostoma brittini on Nothofagus solandri: var solandri was measured on 28-29 August 1990 near Oxford, Canterbury. In 64 quadrats of 125 cm², all 740 active individual insects were mapped by their anal threads and honeydew production was recorded every three hours over 24 hours. Mean production of honeydew per insect over 24 hours was 0. 1 69 mul, but ranged from zero (4% of all active insects) to 11.5 mul. Standing crop Peaked just after dawn, and production was apparently higher at night.

Weather-Related Differences in Attractiveness of Protein Foods to Vespula Wasps

Low acceptance of protein baits by common (Vespula vulgaris) and German (V. germanica) wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) occurred after rain in honeydew beech forest. This corresponded with a sharp decrease in the proportion of natural protein in the diet of V. vulgaris and V. germanica, and a reduction in the concentration of carbohydrate-rich honeydew in the crops of foraging wasps carrying liquid.

Energetics of South Island Kaka (Nestor meridionalis meridionalis) Feeding on the Larvae of Kanuka Longhorn Beetles (Ochrocydus huttoni)

Kaka (Nestor meridionalis meridionalis) studied in Big Bush State Forest spent 35% of their feeding time digging out Ochrocydus huttoni larvae from live mountain beech trunks (Nothofagus solandri: var. cliffortioides).
Larvae of O. huttoni had a high energy value compared to that of other insects. The assimilation efficiency for energy of two captive kaka was 91 j: 3% when fed a diet of O. huttoni.

Honeydew and Its Importance to Birds in Beech Forests of South Island, New Zealand

Honeydew is produced by a scale insect (Ultracoelostoma assimile, Margarodidae) in some Nothofagus forests of South Island, New Zealand. The quantity of honeydew present and its sugar concentration varies through the year. Honeydew is a valuable resource for bellbirds (Anthornis melanura), tuis (Prosthemadera novaesealandiae) and silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis). Bellbirds and tuis were commoner in forests with more honeydew. Bell- birds spent more time feeding on honeydew when its sugar concentration was low.