Community identification
Honey pot ant (Reticulate repletes)
Myrmecocystus species (e.g., Myrmecocystus mexicanus)
- Order & Family
- Hymenoptera, Formicidae
- Size
- Workers 4-10 mm; repletes can expand up to 15 mm in abdomen diameter
Natural Habitat
Arid and semi-arid desert regions, underground chambers and nests
Diet & Feeding
Nectar, plant sap, aphid honeydew, insect fluids, and stored liquid food carried by repletes
Behavior Patterns
Eusocial insects with caste systems where special worker ants (repletes) act as living food storage tanks, hanging from chamber ceilings to feed the colony during dry seasons
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: Aerates desert soils, important food source for desert wildlife and indigenous cultures; Risks: None to humans, non-venomous