Myrmecocystus wheeleri — Honeypot Colony | Sold Out for the 2026 Season

Sold out for the 2026 season. Wheeleri is a seasonal catch, and this year's colonies are gone. They return when the 2027 season opens. Want first word when they're back? Email us and we'll put you on the list.

Shipping: UPS/FedEx 2-Day, $20 flat — free on orders over $120. Live arrival guaranteed.

Myrmecocystus wheeleri — a western honeypot, offered as an established colony. One of the genus's most coveted members, famous for its living larders: specialized workers called repletes that swell with golden nectar and hang from the nest ceiling as a living food store.

• You'll receive: an established colony with queen, workers, and brood.
• Founding: Fully claustral — and with an established colony, the hardest founding stage is already behind you.
• Diet: Sugars and nectar (stored in repletes) plus insect protein.
• Range: Southwestern U.S. deserts and chaparral.
• Difficulty: Advanced. Wheeleri is rewarding but demanding — colonies are notoriously tricky to carry through their 3rd and 4th generations, and they require a proper winter diapause (a cool dormant period) each year to stay healthy long-term. This is not a starter colony.
• Before you buy: plan for temperature control and an annual diapause period.

New here? Read our Orange Honeypot care guide →

From their chamber to your door — shipped with care by Royal Chamber Ants.

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