Environment
Fact-checked

At AllThingsNature, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are Honey Ants?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Honey ants refer to several different types of ants that have an unusual appearance and set of behaviors making them quite remarkable. Also called repletes and honeypot ants, these insects don’t just go out to gather small bits of food to carry back to their nests. Instead, they fill their abdomens with huge amounts of food, which make them look similar to small crawling honey pots. The gathering types of honey ants are then able to feed the rest of the ant colony through extraction of this food, water, or protein from their distended abdomens.

It’s certainly odd to think of any creature acting as a walking pantry for its fellow creatures, but this is indeed the function of honey ants. Their appearance is incredibly distinct because you will note the hugely swollen abdomen, and the size of the “honey pot” can be similar to a grape or cherry, but is often a translucent amber color. Each separate genus of honey ants does have size variation. Not all the ants in a colony will have large swollen bellies. Usually it is the female workers of a certain size that do the food harvesting and collecting, while smaller females take care of the ant queen, which rules each society, and males typically serve a much more minimal role acting to mate with the queen and then quietly and rapidly expiring.

Honey ants live in the desert.
Honey ants live in the desert.

It’s difficult to describe the behavior of honey ants as a whole, since there are so many different types. There are for instance, nocturnal and diurnal groups, and diet will depend much on available insects and plant sources. Most of these ants do live in desert or dry regions and they can be found in many places in the world.

One ant called the small honey ant, which has a range through most of the Americas, is sometimes called the false honey ant. It shouldn’t be confused with the honeypot ant and doesn’t exhibit the abdomen food storing behaviors of most honey ants. Instead it’s a very common insect that loves sweet things, and is the bane to many a kitchen when it conducts raids for things like honey and sugar. If you’ve ever had ants attack any of your sweet foods, you’ve very likely met the false honey ant.

In contrast, true honey ants have a more limited range, and are more likely to be encountered in arid areas. They can’t generally survive the colder temperatures where false honey ants appear to thrive. These ants also have become the occasional target of human populations, since they do contain small amounts of honey. Aboriginal populations in Australia and its surrounding continent, and groups in Northern America and Mexico have been known to dig up the nests, quickly suck the honey from the full-bellied ants, and press the ants to extract their honey, according to Eva Crane in her 1999 book The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are honey ants and how do they differ from other ants?

Honey ants are a unique group of ant species known for their specialized workers called repletes, which store food in their enlarged abdomens. Unlike other ants, these repletes act as living larders for their colony, becoming immobile as they hang from the ceilings of their nests. This adaptation allows the colony to survive in arid environments where food is scarce and sporadic.

Where can honey ants be found in the world?

Honey ants are primarily found in arid or semi-arid regions, including parts of Australia, North America, and Africa. In Australia, the honey ant Myrmecocystus is well-known among Indigenous cultures, which have traditionally harvested them for their sweet abdominal contents. These ants thrive in environments where their unique food storage strategy offers a survival advantage.

What do honey ants eat and how do they collect their food?

Honey ants are foragers that consume a variety of foods, including nectar, insects, and plant secretions. Workers collect food and feed it to the repletes, which process and store it as a honey-like substance in their distended abdomens. This stored food can later be shared with other colony members during lean times, ensuring the colony's survival.

How do honey ants benefit their ecosystem?

Honey ants play a significant role in their ecosystems by aiding in seed dispersal and soil aeration through their extensive tunneling. They also serve as a food source for various predators and can influence plant pollination patterns through their foraging activities. Their unique food storage system also helps stabilize the food web in their harsh habitats.

Can honey ants be harmful to humans or the environment?

Honey ants are generally not harmful to humans or the environment. They are not known to be aggressive or to cause significant damage to crops or structures. In fact, their presence is often considered beneficial due to their ecological roles. However, like any species, they can become a nuisance if they invade human spaces in search of food.

Are honey ants used by any cultures for food or other purposes?

Yes, honey ants are considered a delicacy among some Indigenous peoples, particularly in Australia where they are harvested for their sweet-tasting abdomens. The practice of eating honey ants is an ancient tradition, and the ants are valued for their nutritional content, which includes sugars and proteins. Additionally, they are sometimes used in traditional medicine and cultural ceremonies.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent AllThingsNature contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent AllThingsNature contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

highlighter

@parmnparsley- I have had good luck getting rid of similar ants by using scented baby powder. It doesn't work for killing ants, but the ants sure don't like the stuff. I hope this helps. Good luck!

GiraffeEars

@parmnparsley- It sounds like you have ants from the genus forelius. Do you live in a xeric climate, residential desert, by chance? If these are the ants, they tend to forage mostly during the day and in hot climates. They are very small ants and often forage alone or in small groups. They also tend to travel in perfectly straight or near straight lines.

They are probably not affected by your traps because they usually have a sweetener added to attract ants. These ants in particular usually feed on other insects, so they prefer greasy and protein rich foods. You could put a strawberry and a french fry next to each other, and they will likely swarm the french fry.

I got rid of the ants in my kitchen by finding their point of entry, misting it with water, and coating the area with cinnamon. I also try to keep my stove very clean, especially after cooking greasy foods.

parmnparsley

How do you get rid of ants? I have tried using ant traps, but they don't seem to work for the little ants that I have. They are very small; requiring a magnifying glass to see any detail. They are harmless, non-biting ants but they are a nuisance.

The ants only come inside when the gardeners spray pesticides (that's the only time I get any bugs in my house). I have actually gotten into arguments with my HOA about spraying pesticides for this very reason. I don't see the point because I am totally fine with the bugs being outside...where they belong. If anyone knows how to stop these little pests from settling in my home, I would appreciate the advice.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Honey ants live in the desert.
      By: george kuna
      Honey ants live in the desert.