Composition and potential as a prebiotic functional food of a Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus) honeydew honey produced in New Zealand

The Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus, GWA) is an invasive pest insect in New Zealand, which excretes honeydew. European honeybees collect this honeydew and make it into a type of honey that crystallizes in the comb, representing a significant loss to apiarists. This crystallization has been ascribed to high concentrations of oligosaccharides, particularly melezitose. In this research, the first carbohydrate profile of GWA honeydew honey, a sample of GWA honeydew honey was found to contain 37.8% total oligosaccharides of which 27.4% was melezitose, and 2.5% gluconic acid (higher than typical honeydew honeys); 41.2% monosaccharides (lower than typical honeydew honeys); and 0.054% salicylic acid (higher than previous estimates). Melezitose extracted from GWA honeydew honey was not significantly hydrolyzed in crude human-stomach and human-small-intestine simulations and may therefore meet the prebiotic criterion of human indigestibility.

Automated summary

GWA honeydew honey contains high concentrations of oligosaccharides, higher levels of gluconic acid and salicylic acid compared to typical honeydew honeys. Melezitose extracted from GWA honeydew honey was not significantly hydrolyzed in human digestion simulations, indicating potential prebiotic properties.