Little Gold Honeypot Ants (Myrmecocystus navajo)

Myrmecocystus navajo (Little Gold Honeypot Ants)

Myrmecocystus navajo, commonly known as the Little Gold Honeypot Ant, is one of the most visually stunning and fascinating honeypot species available. Native to the deserts and dry grasslands of the American Southwest, this species is admired for its glowing golden amber coloration and its classic replete behavior—specialized workers that hang from the ceilings of their nest chambers, filled with liquid sugars. Their natural beauty, calm temperament, and organized colony structure make them a favorite among ant-keeping enthusiasts seeking honeypot ants for sale that are both captivating and moderately easy to care for.

Little Gold Honeypot Ants form medium-to-large colonies and grow steadily when provided with consistent warmth and nutrition. They are primarily nocturnal foragers, often emerging at dusk to collect nectar and insect prey. In captivity, they thrive under steady heat and bright light cycles, quickly adapting to artificial conditions. Colonies demonstrate remarkable teamwork, and once established, they produce brilliant replete clusters that shimmer under display lighting.

This species thrives in desert-style formicariums that mimic its natural arid environment. Its elegant repletes, mild temperament, and predictable growth make it an outstanding choice for keepers who appreciate observation and display. Watching repletes slowly fill with sugar water is one of the most rewarding sights in ant keeping, and M. navajo offers this spectacle reliably year-round.

Species Info

General:
A mid-sized honeypot ant from the arid Southwest. Produces repletes that hang from nest ceilings, creating a living display of liquid gold. Ideal for hobbyists who want both visual appeal and stable growth.

Diet:
Provide constant access to byFormica Ant Nectar or other sugar sources, supplemented with small insects such as fruit flies, mealworms, or crickets. Protein is critical for brood and queen egg production, while sugars encourage replete development.

Temperature:
Maintain 78–85°F with a slight gradient allowing cooler retreat zones. Keep brood chambers slightly humid but replete areas dry to prevent stress.

Nest:
Vertical or deep-chambered nests work best, TarheelAnts or sand-clay setups with textured surfaces for replete hanging. Provide a dry, open outworld for foraging.

Diapause:
No diapause required; M. navajo can grow continuously throughout the year with heat and food.

Growth:
Brood develops in about 7–8 weeks. Colonies typically reach hundreds of workers in their first year, forming dense clusters of repletes as they mature.

Queen size: 12–13 mm  Worker size: 4–7 mm