Myrmecocystus (Honeypot) Ant Care Sheet

Introduction to Myrmecocystus Ants 🍯

Myrmecocystus, commonly known as honeypot ants, are fascinating inhabitants of arid and semi-arid regions in North America—including the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and parts of Canada. Renowned for their unique repletes—workers that store liquid sugars and nectar in their swollen abdomens—these ants provide a captivating glimpse into nature's ingenuity while playing a vital role in desert ecosystems.

Key Traits of Myrmecocystus Ants

Honeypot Behavior: Certain workers become repletes, storing food and resembling little golden pots of honey.
Arid Adaptation: Thrive in hot, dry environments, perfectly suited to desert and semi-desert climates.
Fully Claustral Queens: Queens remain sealed in a secure chamber during the founding stage, relying on internal reserves to produce the initial brood.
Opportunistic Foragers: Feed on a mix of sugar water and insect protein!
Unique Colony Dynamics: As colonies expand, the appearance of repletes signals the ants’ ability to store food for leaner times.

Native Myrmecocystus Species 🌍

Notable Species:

Myrmecocystus mexicanus – Widely distributed in the American Southwest, known for its striking repletes and golden large workers!
Myrmecocystus Placodops– A classic desert species, highly adapted to extreme arid conditions.

These species showcase the remarkable adaptations that make honeypot ants a standout group among desert-dwelling ants.

Colony Growth Stages & Care 🏡

Myrmecocystus colonies progress through several critical stages. Each phase requires careful attention to environmental conditions and feeding protocols to ensure a thriving colony.

Four Key Phases of Colony Growth:

🌱 Founding Stage – The queen establishes her brood in a low-stress, secure environment.
🌿 Starter Colony (Few Workers) – The first workers emerge and begin foraging while care routines are established.
🏗️ Developing Colony (Expanding Workforce) – The colony grows and requires increased food and space.
🏰 Mature Colony (Replete Production & Expansion) – A well-established colony with repletes and specialized roles.

Phase 1: Founding Stage 🌱

The founding stage is crucial for a Myrmecocystus queen. Minimizing stress is essential—avoid moving the queen or exposing her to vibrations. Being fully claustral, the queen will seal herself in a secure chamber (typically a test tube setup) and rely entirely on her stored energy to produce the first batch of eggs.
Tip: A small drop of sugar water may be offered to gently support her, but generally, she does not require external food during this phase.
Patience is key: The first workers (nanitics) may take several weeks to a couple of months to emerge.

Test Tube Setup (Essential for Early Success) 🧪

✔ Tube Size: Use 16–20 mm diameter test tubes to provide ample space.
✔ Water Source: Fill one-third of the tube with water and secure with cotton for hydration.
✔ Minimal Disturbance: Keep handling to a minimum to avoid disrupting the queen's natural process.

🔥 Optimal Temperature:
Maintain 80–85°F (26–29°C) using a heating cable attached to a thermostat placed near the test tube to create a gentle temperature gradient.

Phase 2: Starter Colony (Few Workers) 🌿

Once the first workers emerge, begin establishing a routine for feeding and maintenance. At this stage, offer a balanced diet of sugar water (1:3 ratio) and insect protein.

Protein Sources: Provide small feeder insects such as nymph roaches, mealworms, or fruit flies—cut larger prey into manageable pieces.
Sugar Water: Essential for energy; use a pen or similar tool to break surface tension, or consider byFormica liquid feeders for ease.

Enclosure Setup:

At this point a Tarheel Ants Minihearth is the most ideal option, the ants will begin to create repletes very early on if provided the right resources! If a minihearth is not possible, upgrade to a tub and tube system, placing the test tube nest inside a larger container with a thick fluon barrier to prevent escapes. This setup offers ample foraging space and easy food access.

Phase 3: Developing Colony (Expanding Workforce) 🏗️

As the colony grows, so do its nutritional and spatial needs. Regular feeding becomes critical to sustain both brood production and worker activity. A Myrmecocystus colony surpasses 50 workers, it enters a phase of rapid expansion, requiring more food, space, and environmental maintenance. At this stage, workers become highly efficient foragers, actively hunting live or pre-killed insects to sustain the growing brood. Protein intake must be increased to at least 2-3 times per week, with suitable prey including small crickets, mealworms, roach nymphs, fruit flies, and loads of seeds. Sugars should now be available at all times to fuel worker activity. For a growing Myrmecocystus colony, a *Tarheel Ants Mini Hearth* is an excellent choice for an enclosure. This nest is designed with optimal humidity control and vertical space, both of which are crucial for colonies with repletes who need to store liquid food. With its modular design, the Mini Hearth allows for seamless expansion as the colony grows, keeping the environment comfortable for both the workers and the queen. Additionally, the Mini Hearth's quality construction and multiple chambers mimic the ants' natural underground habitat, providing a safe and effective space for the colony to thrive.

Feeding Schedule: Adjust the frequency and quantity based on consumption—typically increase protein and sugar water feedings as the colony expands.
Maintenance: Keep the enclosure clean by removing excess food and debris to prevent mold or pest issues.

Enclosure Upgrades:

When workers number around 25 or repletes begin to appear, consider moving to a larger nest. Ensure that the new nest offers:

Adequate Vertical Space: Especially important for repletes that hang and store food.
Multiple Chambers: Mimic the natural underground environment to support diverse colony activities.

Phase 4: Mature Colony (Replete Production & Expansion) 🏰

A well-established Myrmecocystus colony, with 500+ workers, is a highly organized and efficient system that requires constant food supplies, multiple nesting chambers, and increased maintenance. At this stage, the colony will consume large amounts of protein daily, with preferred prey including full-sized crickets, large mealworms, superworms, and even live roaches to meet the demands of rapid brood production. Sugar sources, such as sugar water or nectar, must be available at all times to sustain the energy-intensive foraging efforts of hundreds of workers. A mature Myrmecocystus colony is a sophisticated system featuring specialized repletes that serve as living food stores. Minor workers continue routine tasks and foraging, while repletes provide a crucial reserve of nutrients.

Feeding Needs: Maintain a steady supply of insect protein and sugar water to support the high activity levels and brood production.
Nest Expansion: Utilize modular, multi-chamber nests with vertical space and moisture control, designed for Myrmecocystus colonies.
When your colony outgrows its initial setup, the Tarheel Ants Mini Hearth is a fantastic option to consider. This compact yet versatile nest is meticulously designed to mimic natural conditions, featuring modular chambers and excellent moisture control to create a secure, stable environment. Its ample vertical space is particularly beneficial for species like Myrmecocystus, where repletes need room to hang and store food. Easy to monitor and maintain, the Mini Hearth provides a reliable, space-efficient solution that supports your colony's continued growth and thriving development.

Additional Considerations:

✔ Regularly monitor food intake and environmental conditions.
✔ Ensure the fluon barrier remains intact to prevent escapes.
✔ Provide platforms or designated feeding areas to keep the enclosure organized and reduce waste buildup.

Heating:

✔ Use a Zoomed heating cable paired with a thermostat to maintain a stable 80–85°F (26–29°C).
✔ Position the cable under the open end of the test tube or along the tub edge to create a temperature gradient that lets ants regulate their microenvironment.

Final Tips for Success 🏆

✔ Patience is Key – Myrmecocystus grow semi-quickly but require consistent care.
✔ Keep a Feeding Log – Track diet and adjust accordingly.
✔ Prevent Mold – Remove uneaten protein quickly.
✔ Join an Ant-Keeping Community – Learn from experienced keepers.

📸 Instagram: @antlantisofficial
📧 Email: support@antlantis.com
💬 Join the "Ants & Ant Keeping" Discord and the "Ant-Keeping & Ethology" Discord.

🐜🏆 By following this comprehensive care guide, your Myrmecocystus colony will thrive, offering you a unique window into the enchanting world of honeypot ants. Enjoy your ant keeping journey!

Photo Credits:

Photo 208812344, (c) Jake Nitta, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jake Nitta