Can You Eat Honeypot Ants?
WouterWhether you’ve ever had honeypot ants or not, you probably know that they are tasty little desert ants. They have a sweet taste and are high in protein, calcium and iron. They also have interesting food storage capabilities. The ant’s abdomen is filled with sweet and sour nectar. The ant stores food for the colony, and regurgitates it for nestmates when food is scarce.
The honeypot ant can be found in many parts of the world. In Australia, they are part of the aboriginal tribesman’s diet. They have a sweet taste and are usually eaten as a dessert. It’s important to note that they are not harmful to humans, but they are not recommended to eat.
There are many different species of ants. Most are black, but some have red bodies. They are about 1.5 grams in size. They are about 150 to 300 times bigger than a typical ant. They are named honeypot ants for their special caste of large workers.
Honeypot ants have an interesting job. They regurgitate stored food and water for their colony when food becomes scarce. These workers are called repletes.
Repletes are large and swollen. The ants have a small head and a large abdomen. They are able to regurgitate nectar and water to other ants in their colony.
Honeypot ants can be found in many arid climates. They live in nests that are often underground. A honeypot nest is a large crater-like mound. A deeper excavation reveals a massive chamber filled with honeypot ants.
