{"product_id":"myrmecocystus-romanei","title":"Myrmecocystus romanei — Starter Colony (5 to 10 Workers)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping:\u003c\/strong\u003e UPS\/FedEx 2-Day, $20 flat — free on orders over $120. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/live-arrival-guarantee\"\u003eLive arrival guaranteed\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou'll receive:\u003c\/strong\u003e a mated queen with \u003cstrong\u003e5 to 10 workers\u003c\/strong\u003e and brood. A starter colony already past the fragile founding stage, so it grows from the day it lands on your shelf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Facts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStage: Starter colony (queen + 5 to 10 workers + brood)\u003cbr\u003eFounding: Fully claustral\u003cbr\u003eTemp: 24 to 30 °C warm \/ 18 to 22 °C cool\u003cbr\u003eDifficulty: Intermediate\u003cbr\u003eDiet: Sugars and nectar kept available at all times, plus live or frozen insects\u003cbr\u003eFamous for: Repletes, workers swollen with stored nectar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNew to this species?\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/care-myrmecocystus-romanei\"\u003eRead our full Romanei Honeypot care guide →\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem style=\"color:#9aa6d8;font-size:.85rem;\"\u003eNative range (U.S.): Arizona, California, Nevada.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Royal Chamber Ants","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55879414874417,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0869\/0375\/0961\/files\/P1039798.jpg?v=1790881921","url":"https:\/\/rcants.com\/products\/myrmecocystus-romanei","provider":"Royal Chamber Ants","version":"1.0","type":"link"}