Myrmecocystus mexicanus

Mostly sweet liquids and dead insects. Workers forage alone, mainly at night, collecting nectar from flowers and cactus fruit, honeydew from aphids and mealybugs, and sugary juice from oak galls. Their protein comes largely from dead or dying arthropods, and in one study 110 of 145 food items were dead harvester ants of the species Pogonomyrmex occidentalis. They rarely hunt live prey, which is why small pre-killed insects suit them in captivity.

A queen founds alone, sealed in a chamber and living on her body reserves, and in captivity her first workers appeared about two months after the eggs were laid. Many keepers lose most of their founding queens, and keepers of several honeypot species lose colonies later too: one hears of queens dying at 30 to 70 workers, usually after repletes began dying, and another expects only about one colony in four to make it. Nobody has pinned down the reason. The most encouraging reports kept the queens in the dark and almost undisturbed, and several keepers found that queens given sand or dirt to dig in did better than queens in bare test tubes.

Myrmecocystus mexicanus workers measure 4–8 mm, with majors up to 9 mm, and the queen measures 12–15 mm.

Just one. Myrmecocystus mexicanus is monogyne: each colony has a single queen, so never put two queens together once the first workers arrive.

No. Myrmecocystus mexicanus has no sting: the workers bite and spray formic acid, which can sting small cuts.

In its native range, Myrmecocystus mexicanus usually flies in Jul – Sep. The weather decides the exact days.

Keep the Myrmecocystus mexicanus nest at 26–30 °C, with 40–60 % humidity in the brood chambers.

No. Myrmecocystus mexicanus stays active all year and does not need a winter rest.

Myrmecocystus mexicanus is not on the EU list of invasive alien species and is not protected in the countries we checked. Rules differ between countries and can change, so check your local laws first.