Myrmecocystus mexicanus (Honeypot ants)
| Latin Name: |  |
Myrmecocystus mexicanus |
| Trivialname: |  |
Honeypot ants |
| Taxonomy: |  |
Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Camponotini |
| Keeping Level: |  |
(2) show higher requirements to climate and escapeprevention |
| Distribution: |  |
Southwestern United States, Mexico |
| Habitat: |  |
varity of xerothermic habitats from Woodland, Savanna to Grassland |
| Colonyform: |  |
monogyne |
| Queen: |  |
Size: 15 - 18mm Colour: yellow with the thorax more darker bulky thorax |
| Worker: |  |
Size: 6 - 10mm Colour: yellow with black eyes |
| Soldier: |  |
not present |
| Males: |  |
Size: - Colour: - |
| Nutrition |  |
Honeywater, Nectar, Pollen, Insects e.g. Flies or Mosquitos or small crickets insects should be dead, |
| Airhumidity: |  |
Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70% |
| Temperature: |  |
Arena: 21 - 40°C Nestpart: 28 - 35°C |
| Hibernation: |  |
yes from november to end of Februar at 5 to 8°C ( Cooler) |
| Nestform: |  |
Nest in soil with a typical crater entrance mainly with a wide u to 2 cm diameter |
| Kind of Formicaria: |  |
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest |
| Formicaria size: |  |
Size: M - XL |
| Substrate: |  |
Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-Loam |
| Planting: |  |
similar to meadow and savanna |
| Decoration: |  |
Branches, Roots, leafes |
| Description: |  |
This beautiful ants are known for there honeypots. Special worker which are used as foodstorage. They are very active and aggressive but show especially in the beginning a slow colony development.Myrmecocystus mexicanus is the largest Honeypot ant in the USA. |
| Development: |  |
matingflight: summer and fall after evening rains founding: claustral (without feeding) colonysize: up to 10.000 Individuals |
| Quantity: |  |
one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development) |
| Weblinks: |  |
- Forum - Reference |