Inspect a Southern Beech tree in New Zealand and you'll see long wispy hairs emerging, with clear liquid at the tip. This is honeydew, the delicious sugary poo of scale insects feeding on the tree's phloem!
This important energy resource supports a whole ecosystem, from sooty mould to native bees, and birds like tūī, kākā and bellbirds.
Unfortunately, introduced European wasps have taken a big liking to the honeydew and are aggressively displacing many of the native animals - so it's important that wasp control measures are successful!
