The composition of the honeydew excreted by Australian coccids of the genus Ceroplastes

Abstract
The honeydews produced by 3 of the 4 spp. of wax scale insects belonging to the genus Ceroplastes which occur in Australia were examined. Ribitol was isolated from honeydew from C. destructor and identified. By the use of filter-paper partition chromatography it was indicated that the honey-dews excreted by C. destructor, C. ceriferus and C. rubens contain ribitol. For C. destructor and C. ceriferus this appears to be the only simple type of carbohydrate material present. The honeydew excreted by C. rubens contains, in addition to ribitol, glucose and another (unidentified) reducing sugar. The saps of 3 host plants for these scales were examined and found probably to contain ribitol. The RF values for a number of sugar alcohols in several solvents are given.
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