At a Glance

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Structure: Polygynous — multiple egg-laying queens
• Diet: Sugars & nectar + insect protein
• Temperature: ~80–86°F warm gradient
• Repletes: Yes — living honey-storage workers
• Sting: Mild and not defensive
• You'll receive: An established colony — 3 queens + workers

Your Polygynous Colony

Unlike a single founding queen, Myrmecocystus christinae is polygynous — several queens lay eggs side by side in the same nest. Your colony arrives already established, with three queens plus workers, so it's past the slow, fragile founding stage and ready to grow. After shipping, let them settle somewhere dark and warm for a day, with water and a little sugar available, before disturbing them.

Feeding

A sugar-hungry honeypot. Keep nectar or sugar water available at all times — the repletes (living storage workers) depend on a steady carbohydrate supply, and a well-fed colony develops the glowing golden repletes the genus is famous for. Offer insect protein — fruit flies, small crickets, or pieces of mealworm — regularly to fuel brood and the queens' egg-laying.

Heating & Setup

Warm and dry is the rule. Aim for around 80–86°F over part of the nest with a heating cable or mat, leaving a cooler gradient so the colony can self-regulate. These are smaller, mostly nocturnal honeypots — they appreciate a quiet setup and a vertical surface their repletes can hang from.

Growth & What to Expect

With multiple queens laying together, a polygynous colony builds faster and more steadily than a single-queen start. M. christinae stays smaller and daintier than giants like mexicanus, but it's an active, rewarding nocturnal honeypot that still produces those classic amber repletes. Consistent heat and sugar are the keys to a thriving nest.

Ready to grow your colony?

We raise and ship Myrmecocystus christinae colonies with a Live Arrival Guarantee.