Honeydew - Definition and Overview

The term honeydew has more than one meaning.

• The honeydew is a type of edible melon (Family Cucurbitaceae) — a cultivar, of the species Cucumis melo L. subspecies melo L., which includes as other cultivars, the cantaloupe, casaba, musk mellon, and several ornamental gourds.

• Honeydew is a sugar-rich secretion of certain plant-sucking insects such as aphids and scale insects. Ants and wasps may eat honeydew, while honeybees gather it and process it into a dark, strong honey that is highly prized in parts of Europe and Asia for its reputed medicinal value. Many trees host aphids that are a source of honeydew.

• "Honeydoos" is a pun that refers to a weekend list of projects given to a husband by his wife.

• Dr Bunsen Honeydew is a character from the Muppets, known chiefly for his mad scientist inventions and hapless, monosyllabic assistant Beaker.