Myrmecocystus kathjuli
 
UK SHIPPING ONLY - We do not ship this species outside of the UK
ONLY order on a Tracked service - They are too sensitive for standard shipping.
 
To help with founding we send our queens in the pots we raise them in. This complimentary chambered pot will be a perfect home for your colony right up to 50+ workers. Kept calm they will continue to raise their egg piles and do you proud without another move. When at 50 workers, you are in a much safer position for a move into a larger nest.
 
Honeypot ants get their name from a special caste of worker called a replete. This species is found in arid and unforgiving environments where summer months and drought will cause colonies to die. As such a replete worker is used to stretch her social stomach and swell like a balloon during times of plenty. She is filled with sugars and water so when times turn the colony can still continue to grow and function.  To stay out of the way of others they can store these grape sized stores while hanging from the ceiling of the nest too. With some snaps you have yourself a beautiful Christmas theme right there.
 
You will need to do plenty of research into this species and know your stuff too, they are certainly not a species for beginners or intermediate keepers as their care is difficult to master. 
 
 
Colony Size
Queen is fully claustral – we would advise bonus food until first workers is offered though as in the wild this species will found with other queens, when workers emerge they decisively kill weaker queens while leaving the strongest. In captivity and with only 1 queen it is quite important to make sure she is strong.
Temperature
Heated 27 to 30 degrees nest
30 to 32 outworld
Humidity
70-80% in nest
Hibernation
Small diapause of around 8 weeks in November of each year
Polymorphic (Different size casts)
No
Bite
Yes
Diet
Protein, Sugars, Water.
Nest Type
Natural, Acrylic, Sand, Earth, Glass.