A NOTE ON MANNA FEEDING BY ANTS (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE)

The production of manna is often associated with the feeding injuries of the coreid, Amorbus obscuricornis (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Coreidae). The manna produced as a result of the injuries caused by A, obscurico rnis is extremely attractive to ants and it is often taken right from underneath feeding bugs. Observations of a number of Tasmanian ant spe cies feeding upon eucalpyt manna, suggest that this substance is an im portant source of carbohydrate for the ants. The possible significance of manna secretion is considered.