Myrmecocystus romanei — Starter Colony (5 to 10 Workers)

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A desert honeypot from the Southwest, now shipped as a starter colony. Romanei workers forage for nectar and pass it to the repletes, specialized workers whose abdomens swell into living storage jars that hang like amber beads from the chamber ceiling. Watching a colony build its first repletes is one of the quiet great moments in the hobby, and with a starter colony you are already most of the way there.

You'll receive: a mated queen with 5 to 10 workers and brood. A starter colony already past the fragile founding stage, so it grows from the day it lands on your shelf.

Quick Facts
Stage: Starter colony (queen + 5 to 10 workers + brood)
Founding: Fully claustral
Temp: 24 to 30 °C warm / 18 to 22 °C cool
Difficulty: Intermediate
Diet: Sugars and nectar kept available at all times, plus live or frozen insects
Famous for: Repletes, workers swollen with stored nectar

New to this species? Read our full Romanei Honeypot care guide →

Native range (U.S.): Arizona, California, Nevada.