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Myrmecocystus mexicanus. Honeypot ants have an unusual food storage system. Some members of each colony act as living receptacles known as "repletes", these ants become engorged with food and hang from the ceilings of chambers deep underground. Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
Myrmecocystus tenuinodis, a small honeypot species that lives in sand dunes and is active in the mornings. Mojave National Preserve, California, USA
Myrmecocystus honeypot ant species come in three basic color patterns, depending on the time of day that they forage. The orange/yellow species such as this M. navajo are nocturnal. These ants were photographed leaving their nest entrance to forage shortly after dusk. Willcox, Arizona, USA
Myrmecocystus mimicus worker leaving the nest to forage. Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA
The distinctive nest entrance of the nocturnal honeypot ant Myrmecocystus mexicanus. Huachuca mountains, Arizona, USA
Myrmecocystus mendax honeypot ant, with pupae. Chiricahua mountains, Arizona, USA
Deep inside a nest of Prenolepis imparis, young worker ants are swollen with liquid food. These replete ants act as living storage containers and allow the colonies to persist through dearth periods. Huachuca Mountains, Arizona, USA
Myrmecocystus mimicus alate female, worker, and larva. Carrizo Plain Nat'l Monument, California, USA
Myrmecocystus mimicus worker leaving the nest to forage. Sycamore Canyon, Arizona, USA
Myrmecocystus mexicanus. Honeypot ants have an unusual food storage system. Some members of each colony act as living receptacles known as "repletes", these ants become engorged with food and hang from the ceilings of chambers deep underground.

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
Myrmecocystus mexicanus. Honeypot ants have an unusual food storage system. Some members of each colony act as living receptacles known as "repletes", these ants become engorged with food and hang from the ceilings of chambers deep underground. Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
Myrmecocystus mexicanus. Honeypot ants have an unusual food storage system. Some members of each colony act as living receptacles known as "repletes", these ants become engorged with food and hang from the ceilings of chambers deep underground.

Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences
See photo in original gallery.
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all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013