Myrmecocystus melliger

Price range: $183.83 through $274.38

Number of workers

SKU: AOTA293-1 Category: Ants Tags: ant, Ant Atlas, ant colony, ant on top, antontop, Atlas de hormigas, Atlas Mrówek, Camponotus cruentatus, Myrmecocystus mimicus, Queen of ants, Сephalotes minutus

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Description

Myrmecocystus melliger is a monogynous ant species with a medium development rate. The queen measures 12–13 mm, while the workers range from 4–9 mm. They typically display a light brown to reddish body with a darker gaster. This species is known for its honey pot workers (repletes), which store liquid food in their distended abdomens.

They feed on insects, sweet syrups, fruits, honey, and protein-rich foods. Humidity should be maintained at 40–60% in the arena and 50–70% in the nest, while the temperature should remain between 23–30 °C in the arena and 22–26 °C in the nest.

Additional information

Behavior	Moderate
Difficulty in breeding	Experts
Origin	North America
The size of ants	Medium
Wintering	No Wintering

Description

Myrmecocystus melliger

Colony Type: Monogynous
Colony Size: Up to 10,000 workers
Development Speed: Medium

Size

Queen: 12–13 mm
Workers: 4–9 mm

Nutrition

Food insects (such as cockroaches and crickets) dead, or live if colony is big
Syrup (a mixture of water and honey or sugar, with a ratio of 3 water:1)
Fruits and vegetables
Jelly
Cooked chicken without salt, shrimps
Honey

Don’t forget to check out our food products to ensure a well-balanced diet for your colony!

Environmental Conditions

• Humidity:
Arena: 40–60%
Nest: 50–70%

• Temperature:
Arena: 23–30 °C
Nest: 22–26 °C

Unique Traits

Like its close relatives, Myrmecocystus melliger is famous for its repletes—specialized workers that store liquid food in their enlarged abdomens. These “living honey pots” hang from the nest ceiling and serve as vital food reservoirs during dry or resource-scarce periods.

This adaptation allows M. melliger colonies to thrive in harsh desert environments and makes them one of the most visually striking species for ant keepers.