Honeypot ants, found in genera such as Myrmecocystus and Camponotus, are recognized for a remarkable biological adaptation: a unique method of storing food internally. This specialized diet is meticulously collected and managed to support an unusual food storage system, which earned them their common name. The ability to turn workers into living larders is a sophisticated survival strategy that allows the colony to survive long periods in arid environments.
Collecting Carbohydrates
The primary component of the honeypot ant diet consists of sugary liquids, which are gathered to create substantial internal reserves. Foragers actively seek out and collect plant nectar directly from flowers, providing a rich source of carbohydrates. They also frequently collect sap that naturally exudes from certain trees and plant stems.
A significant source of sugar is honeydew, a sugary excretion produced by sap-sucking insects like aphids or scale insects. Worker ants often “tend” these insects, gently stroking them to encourage the release of the sweet liquid. This carbohydrate-rich liquid is ingested into the worker’s crop, a specialized chamber that acts as a social stomach before being transferred for storage.
The collection of these sweet liquids is paramount because they fuel the entire colony’s energy needs. Worker ants require a constant supply of carbohydrates for foraging, nest maintenance, and general activity. Surplus liquid collected beyond immediate needs is designated for the colony’s long-term survival, forming the basis of their stored “honey.”
Acquiring Protein and Solids
While liquid carbohydrates are used for energy and storage, honeypot ants also require solid foods, specifically protein, to support colony growth and reproduction. Worker ants are effective scavengers, actively seeking out dead insects and other arthropods near the nest entrance. They also hunt and consume small, living prey encountered during foraging trips.
These solid food sources provide necessary amino acids and nutrients unavailable from sugary liquids alone. Protein is primarily fed to the queen and the developing larvae, not stored like carbohydrates. Growing larvae have a high demand for protein to fuel their rapid growth and metamorphosis into adult ants.
Adult worker ants generally subsist on carbohydrate-rich liquids for their energy. The successful acquisition of solid protein is necessary for the colony’s overall health. A lack of protein halts the production of new workers and future repletes, leading to the colony’s decline despite full sugary reserves.
Specialized Food Storage and Sharing
The unique diet is directly linked to a specialized caste of worker ants known as “repletes.” These individuals are living storage tanks whose abdomens swell enormously with liquid food fed by nest mates. This swelling, called physogastry, is possible because the hard dorsal plates are separated by a flexible membrane that stretches significantly.
Once fully engorged, a replete can reach the size of a small grape and is largely immobile due to the mass of stored liquid. They cluster in specialized chambers deep underground, often hanging from the ceiling to protect the contents. In large colonies, repletes can make up nearly half of the population.
When food outside the nest becomes scarce, the colony accesses its living larder. A hungry worker ant approaches a replete and gently strokes its antennae, signaling the need for food. The replete then regurgitates a small droplet of the stored liquid from its crop to the worker in a mouth-to-mouth process called trophallaxis. This efficient distribution allows the colony to survive long periods of drought or winter.